Some of my fellow gamers may recall building a Malibu Stacy area in The Simpsons: Tapped Out that would be very much like what you would see in Barbie Land [7] [71] [94]. Remember when Waylon Smithers aimed to establish a stage musical starring Malibu Stacy in that episode of the twelfth season of The Simpsons [77] [86] [97] [98]? That could be the case for Barbie: The Movie, one of the most successful films of 2023 as rumour has it that Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Mark Ronson, and America Ferrera would like in a stage musical adaptation of it [13] [99] [105]. Barbie Land may not be everyone’s colourful paradise, but I definitely do not consider it as controversial as the French website known as “Ma Bimbo” that was launched in 2007, its English version that was formerly titled “Miss Bimbo” and a strangely political reboot that was launched in 2015 formerly known as “Internet Republic of Bimboland” and currently known as “Fashionable Republic of Ximboland” [2] [38] [45] [78]. On the way back to Barbie Land (or Kendom if you think Ken is the true hero of the film or are just not keen on so much pink [93]), let us take the pale yellow 1950s Corvette this time as if it came from the quirky, vibrant and…politically complex interpretation of Heaven from “Welcome to Heaven”, the sixth episode of the first season of Hazbin Hotel and discuss the idea of a stage musical adaptation of Barbie: The Movie even further [41] [69] [70] [84] [99].
The original English version of Miss Bimbo which was renamed “Like A Fashionista” after Beemoov and Blouzar were separated in 2008 is still around to this day alongside Fashionable Republic ofXimboland and Ma Bimbo and I fondly remember playing the 2010 version of Miss Bimbo as a teenager [16] [17] [18] [53]. Speaking of playing, some Malibu Stacy vibes became available for those in charge of their own Springfields on Level 56 in 2015 and on Level 5 in 2019 [75] [87] [89]. Oh! And do not forget about the cart from the Game of Games The Sequel 2020 event [87]. And speaking of animated comedies for mature audiences, I happened to have rick roll’d Adam for being a total jerk to Charlie Morningstar and calling my fairly new YouTube username “weird” [68] [96]. [98]
It has been almost a week since we last discussed how a stage musical adaptation of Barbie: The Movie can be more than passable [99]. While fans of Juliette Reilly tune into her new song titled “Impossible” [73], let us expand on the possibilities of such a concept excelling and whether Barbie: The Movie deserves to be made into a musical or not [99]. I just hope there will not be too much pink snow on the road back to Barbie Land [74]. Bring on the doll logic…and the trumpets [7] [42]! [11]
Let us list some other possible participants in a stage musical adaptation of Barbie: The Movie [99]. Some other choices for the cast could be:
Taylor Louderman as “Weird” Barbie due to her experience in the musical adaptation of Mean Girls [52]
Ben Platt as Allan [55]
Marla Mendel as Midge for an exclusive moment that will be explained later [52]
Jeremy Jordan as Tourist Ken [52]
Jonathan Groff as another Ken [55]
Sutton Foster as Writer Barbie [55]
Shoshana Bean as Judge Barbie [55]
Ashley Park as Mermaid Barbie [52]
Some alternate choices for the role of “Stereotypical” Barbie or any other Barbie in Barbie Land, such as Doctor Barbie and Physicist Barbie could be:
Ali Stroker [52]
Carrie St Louis [52]
Laura Bell Bundy [52]
If the Sly Cooper movie turned out to be a full-on musical instead of a regular animated adventure that has, unfortunately, been permanently postponed or the events of the first game were adapted into a stage musical [29] [79] [80], Michael Bublé would be great choices for a singing voice for Sly [24]. As for the idea of Barbie: The Movie being made into a musical [99], there is potential to establish songs that can enhance certain scenes, such as the moment when “Stereotypical” Barbie meets Weird Barbie before she travels to the real world and the CEO in a meeting at Mattel [7] [14].
I know what you are thinking. Wouldn’t the one to play the role of “Weird” Barbie also need to be quite athletic to be able to do the splits to be faithful to the character when it comes to portraying her [7]? Well, from what I recall when I saw a Cinderella pantomime as a child, there was a stuntman also playing the role of Buttons, but as “Dangerous Buttons” for stunts. There might as well be an acrobat as a stunt double for the actress who plays the role of “Weird” Barbie in a stage musical adaptation of Barbie: The Movie. It is better to be safe than sorry. [14]
The potential for a stage musical adaptation of Barbie: The Movie bloomed from the 2023 season of Strictly Come Dancing [15] [99]. Have you seen the performance again at the Strictly Come Dancing Live Tour [26]? [15]
What other differences and musical-exclusive aspects could there be between the movie and a stage musical adaption [99]? A romantic moment between Allan and Midge can bloom on stage possibly during a musical number in the resolution after a big plot twist to make up for a missed opportunity to establish them as a couple in a film as I have been aware of their relationship ever since I owned the Caucasian versions of them and their two children from the Happy Family line as a child [7] [37] [106], yet I still appreciate Barbie and Ken not getting into a full-on relationship in a way that would have been pretty clichéd [101]. Shrek: The Musicalmay have been an awkward and slightly self-parodic interpretation of an ogre gradually falling in love with a princess to some of us [28] [99], but a few notable differences in terms of dialogue are quite interesting, such as Lord Farquaad’s parents turning out to be Grumpy, one of the seven dwarves and the princess who felt a pea under a pile of mattresses [102] [103]. Any opportunities that were missed during the scriptwriting and filming can be hit alongside some new ones in response to critical reception in a stage musical adaptation [14] [99].
Surely, Allan Pilgrim is the father of Midge’s yet-to-be-born-already baby [37] [59] [106]. [14]
Some of my fellow 2000s kids seek a missed opportunity to establish a stage musical adaption of Barbie As The Princess And the Pauper at some point way before the film’s 20th anniversary while some 2000s teens may recall Britney Spears at the Barbie Awards Ceremony in Tokyo back in 2002 [23] [91] [95] [99]. No reference to Anne-Marie intended [4]. [9]
Now, onto the question some of us are asking. Does Barbie: The Movie really need or at least deserve to be made into a musical [99]? I believe that it does as I see the potential right in front of me. Besides, Barbie Live!: The Musical faded into obscurity after its short-lived run and chances are that a stage musical adaptation of Barbie: The Movie would become as recognisable and popular as Shrek: The Musical, Frozen: The Musical and the stage musical adaptation of The Lion King [35] [58] [99]. On the other doll’s hand, those who cannot stand musicals would prefer a direct sequel or a spin-off television series centred on Ken finding his own identity [22] [101] [104]. There are a lot of people who think the movie is overrated [105], but as I have stated before, the aspects of feminism can be less preachy in the musical adaptation [14] [99]. Moreover, President Barbie can establish more validation for all Kens a little more effectively by offering them the same job opportunities as Barbies, but without making either side subservient to the other [14]. That is what true equality is [3] [49], right? The ambitiously marketed film that made Barbie a Hollywood starlet could deserve a stage musical adaptation if it can be done quite well [89], especially with the flair, feminism, and funniness in check [7] [54] [57].
Perhaps in a spin-off television series centred on Ken (which would be more necessary than Barbie returning to Barbie Land in “Barbie 2” [101]), he can drive the silver 1950s Chevrolet Corvette that consists of hot rod flames through new areas in Barbie Land that might as well consist of some other elements of Kendom at some point during his further redemption [7] [84] [105]. Anything to make up for the accusations of misandry within political satire if the billion-dollar success of Barbie: The Movie results in a franchise [14] [105]! I could also suggest a brunette Barbie in a light blue counterpart of that splendid pink gingham dress as a second true love interest when it comes to him not making the same big mistake again sometime after “Stereotypical” Barbie’s departure and transformation into a human [7], but that might defeat the purpose of him finding his own identity without reliance on a Barbie [101] [104] [105]. However, “Beach” Ken and his second crush might as well develop a healthy and balanced relationship in a way that is perhaps not too clichéd [101]. [12]
I am not against addressing men’s issues like how MRAs and the MGTOW movement would and I certainly would not approve of using feminism as an excuse for toxic behaviour [27] [92], but it is still important to validate women and their rights in this world and contrary to what some people suspects about feminism, men can be feminists too [56]. I also hope that people will know how important it is to validate autistic people and their rights in this world too [50] [72]. [8]
In association with the plastic starlet’s 65th anniversary [99] [105], we can wish her live-action journey to self-discovery outside of Barbie Land a fabulous first anniversary this July close to the time Deadpool 3 hits cinemas over three weeks after Despicable Me 4 does [43] [81] [100]. Besides, you just cannot deny how ambitious the marketing for the film was and all the pink trends inspired by the utter pinkness of Barbie Land (and the masculinity of Kendom [65] [66]) [1] [5] [63] [64] [90]. To me, there is quite a lot of potential to establish a stage musical adaptation of the film as a spiritual successor to Barbie Live!: The Musical [99]. And surely, a game of chess between a magenta army and a pale purple army in Barbie Land would not be as militant as a game of chess between Mordecai Heller and Viktor Vasko from Lackadaisy [7] [47]. Several Broadway and West End musicals may be closing this year [51], but chances are that new ones can help keep the theatre industry going [99]. As always, refrain from encouraging sexism [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [46]. It is not worth it. Furthermore, if you are the dominant one in a certain type of relationship, know your limits with the submissive one, even in grey instead of pink [40] [60] [61] [62].
Please show some support and respect for Barbara Oppenheimer who seemed to be such a good sport about the impact of the Barbenheimer trend on her [7] [25] [67] [76] [85]. Such a great meme it has been in 2023 that has resulted in an upcoming film adaptation [21] [36] [99] [104]! And please show some admiration for cosplayers who are making cosplaying inclusive for everyone [19] [20] [39] [48] [83], much like how the Barbie franchise aimed to be more diverse as you can tell by the lovely Down Syndrome Barbie that was released last year [44]! [85]
Keep following your dreams because whether you consider yourself a Barbie, a Ken, an Allan or even a Bratz doll, you can be anything [6]. As for me, aside from how I can still be a writer, I could go for some ruby chocolate as I remember my sister treating herself to pieces of ruby chocolate from a Barbie advent calendar while I had a Shrek 2 one when we were kids and the new Ruby Chocolate KitKat McFlurry will be one of the latest sweet treats as McDonald’s in just a week [82] [102] [103]. [10]
BBC Strictly Come Dancing. (2023). Barbie meets Strictly as our Pros dance the night away! ✨ BBC Strictly 2023. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_HGonMyQuo. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
Bublé, M and Derulo, J. (2024). Jason Derulo & Michael Bublé – Spicy Margarita (Official Audio). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI9nHuBVYmI. Last accessed 25th Jan 2024.
Circus & Concerts. (2024). Strictly Come Dancing 2024 Live Tour Birmingham Sunday Matinee Barbie Group Dance. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGYF5rSkJwc. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
Lorraine. (2023). Christine McGuinness Opens Up About Her Autism Diagnosis & Debunks Sexist Stereotypes | Lorraine. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCVoWB8lCKg. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
MickeyJoTheatre. (2024). why is everything closing early?! | what’s going wrong with Broadway and West End shows this year. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GbZyRIXcj8. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
Noble, D. (2017). Fifty Shades of Physical and Emotional Abuse, a book review by The Dom. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGfW3saxM6E. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
Noble, D. (2019). Fifty Shades Will Never Be Freed of Physical and Emotional Abuse, a book review by The Dom. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkeFrKY0t1I. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
Noble, D. (2018). Fifty Slightly Darker Shades of Physical and Emotional Abuse, a book review by The Dom. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIADkp-eL_4. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
Robert, M. (2019). TSTO Premium Gameplay – Teenage Smithers with Malibu Stacy Fan Club. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTiolmD-Zqc. Last accessed 28th Jan 2024.
The Doll Dad 83. (2023). ❤️🔥💖BARBIE the Movie💖❤️🔥 1956 Corvette Hotwheels Set Review!. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAFMbfcCbJ4. Last accessed 29th Jan 2024.
The Project. (2023). How Barbara Oppenheimer’s Life Changed After Barbie & Oppenheimer Opened. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L92G4LmQ4U4. Last accessed 28th Jan 2024.
The Simpsons OST – Sub Ita. (2021). [I Simpson] Waylon Smithers + Malibu Stacy – Sold Separately (Sub Ita). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P7krqwUayY. Last accessed 28th Jan 2024.
Seeing Margot Robbie as Barbie in a variety of pink dresses is quite like how Selena Gomez pulled off a few splendid red dresses on the red carpet [5] [38] [39] [61], so it would hardly be a surprise if Barbie: The Movie’s global success will result in a sequel, spin-off…or stage musical adaption [54] [100] [101] [105]. According to a few sources, Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Mark Ronson, and America Ferrera have expressed their interest in a stage musical adaption of the highest-grossing film of 2023 [17] [96]. This is quite an interesting time to think about such a concept happening during critical takes on the reboot of Mean Girls based on the original film’s musical adaption that does not really seem all that necessary to me [52] [68]. If you ask me, naming a stage musical adaption of Barbie: The Movie as “Barbie: The Musical” is more effective than a mouthful like “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” [27]. The same applies to simply naming the musical reboot of Mean Girls “Mean Girls”, but fitting a music note onto the “A” in the bold pink logo of the original film [51] [68]. It can be argued that Barbie: The Movie is Warner Bros.’s answer to Disney’s Frozen [5] [34]. That statement would become more agreeable if Barbie’s live-action journey to the real world gets adapted into a stage musical [17] [54] [60] [96].
Gerwig, Robbie, Ronson, and Ferrera’s approval of the idea of a stage musical adaption of the film in the future is like how Jack Black expressed a desire to make a direct sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie being more like a musical due to the acclaim of a romantic ballad sung by Bowser fittingly titled “Peaches” [17] [95] [96] [98] [99]. It is quite unfortunate how Gerwig and Robbie were snubbed in the Oscar nomination categories [14], but at least the film has won quite a lot of other awards after its billion-dollar success [6] [9] [10] [12] [104], has become the most popular film on Letterboxd and shall be back in cinemas for a week starting tomorrow [11] [13]. Moreover, will there be any Backwood Barbies in a stage musical adaptation in a few years’ time [1]? [11]
A full-on stage musical adaption of Barbie in a land of Barbie flair would NOT be the first time a production has brought this concept into action [87]. There was quite an obscure stage musical based on the Barbie franchise titled “Barbie Live: The Musical” that premiered in Singapore in late 2013 before it came to Melbourne in April 2014 [21] [74] [62] [74] [89] [92]. With a storyline that is notably different from the story of Barbie having an existential crisis that was told about a decade later [5], the musical was criticised for its seemingly unnecessary side plot involving a magical crystal and elements of vanity that add to what Barbie has been criticised for throughout the years but praised for its anti-bullying message, character development for Teresa and vibrant sets [29] [62] [74] [84]. The attention drawn to a musical adaption of Barbie: The Movie in a few years’ time would be quite unfortunate for the founder of Barbie Live!: The Musical as its relevancy died down after some time [87]. However, I suppose there can be some association with the production of Barbie Live!: The Musical when it comes to bringing the musical adaption of Barbie: The Movie to Singapore and Melbourne as its spiritual successor [89] [92], especially for those who fondly remember seeing it all those years ago…and those who expected better at the time [29] [62] [74] [84].
Here is the cast of Barbie Live! The Musical [21]. The show had its own songs, such as “Get Your Sparkle On” which sounded exactly like what a party Barbie would do and “I Wish I Had Her Life” which must have been associated with Teresa’s character development [29]. [21]
Who could play the roles of the Barbies and Kens? Some possible participants could include:
Cassie Levy as “Stereotypical” Barbie [58]
Andrew Rannells as Beach Ken [58]
Renee Elise Goldsberry as President Barbie [58]
Sebastian Adcelus as the Mattel CEO (which would be assumingly coincidental as Will Ferrell who played the role of the CEO in the film also played the role of Buddy in Elf and Adcelus played the role of Buddy’s stage musical counterpart [5] [19] [30]) [19]
Can you imagine Elder Price from The Book Of Mormon being just Ken [5] [71] [91]? “Stereotypical” Barbie singing the stage musical version of “What I Was Made For” by Billie Eilish would make the moment when she becomes human even more impactful if it will be legal to use it [4] [5] [81]. Some new songs added to Barbie’s journey to self-discovery can be quite comparable to the musicality of Hazbin Hotel, but without much adult content as Barbie: The Movie is rated 12A in the United Kingdom [5] [53] [73]. Speaking of the United Kingdom, I would be delighted to see a cast of British performers for a stage musical adaption of Barbie: The Movie at Birmingham Hippodrome or one of London’s West End Theatres [35] [36]. Whoever will get the roles ought to have plenty of experience in singing and acting and can all hopefully pull them off rather exceptionally [54].
This performance on the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing gives a brief image of what a spiritual successor to Barbie Live! The Musical based on Barbie: The Movie would be like [15] [83] [89] [92]. Hopefully, the sets for Barbie: The Musical will not allegedly cause another pink paint shortage [100] [104], yet I would still be up for a lovely pink hotel like The Grand Budapest Hotel [72], but with a lot more shades and tints of pink and femininity in Barbie Land [5]. Just imagine the devastation of a pink nail varnish shortage [69]! [15]
Some could say that there might as well be some other legally covered songs from Barbie: The Album [2] [5] [9] [24], but perhaps the idea of a stage musical cover of “Pink” by Lizzo will not age too well for some of us [2] [5] [15] [85] [86]. [9]
The musical adaption might as well feature not only a few new songs but also a few differences in terms of the story [90]. I consider Buttons, a character exclusively for pantomime adaptions of Cinderella like a fanmade character who would be featured in a fairly decent or mediocre fanfiction [45], but I guess some exclusive characters can be a little interesting on their own accords without getting in the way of the main stars’ motives. But I digress. Why not let Allan have his own musical number [5] [105]? Perhaps there can be the return of Princess Annalise and a pauper named “Erika” from Barbie As The Princess And The Pauper as new interpretations to fit in the adaption and as a shout-out to my fellow 2000s kids who fondly remember watching it back in the day [7] [55] [93] [97], along with a few Barbies as fairies within a fairytale-themed area in Barbie Land, much like in Barbie Live!: The Musical [89] [92]. Perhaps there can be a little further exploration for the CEO, such as a few details on his family life [105], quite like Shrek’s childhood in Shrek: The Musical [82]. It is important for the musical to honour the film’s feminism, humour for older audience members and explorations of an existential crisis [5] [59].
Happy 20th Anniversary to this fairytale this Autumn [7] [33], Happy 20th Anniversary to the original Mean Girls, and Happy 40th Anniversary to the Mac from Apple Inc. [31] [32] [33] [51]! [7]
Shrek and Fiona catching a brief glimpse of one another as young children in Shrek: The Musical killed off the irony of them falling in love with one another in the original movie [23] [80] [82], but there are still plenty of brorges who enjoyed the musical adaptation [81]. [82]
Unfortunately, plenty of stage musical adaptions of an iconic film have been considered subpar [78]. Not every audience member considered the musical adaption of the original version of Mean Girls from 2004 all that fetch [52] [77]. Some Frozen fans may have found the addition of a few extra songs in Frozen: The Musical a bit excessive [37], but I still deeply appreciated “Monster” for expanding on Elsa’s self-esteem issues in addition to how deeply relatable she is to me [26]. I bet a stage musical of Barbie: The Movie will not pull off a similar transphobic moment from the earlier productions of Shrek: The Musical as transwomen are women [46] [78]. Period. Perhaps the musical adaption’s writing could be less preachy when it comes to the film’s feminism and political satire regarding the plot twist caused by Ken [5], yet it can still be valued, especially if people are still going to be inconsiderate in a few years’ time [25] [40]. Somewhat similarly, if there were to be a stage musical adaption of Hazbin Hotel [53] [73], the way Valentino abuses Angel Dust ought to be toned down as he is, without a doubt, the most controversial character in the first season of the series so far [41] [102] [103]. A few differences in a musical adaption of a film can be quite effective…or a little questionable [16] [77] [78].
Some of our fellow critics have written what they did not like about the musical reboot of Mean Girls in their burn books [18] [42]. Again, the new film based on the stage musical adaptation of the original Mean Girls does not seem highly necessary to me, especially after we saw the advertisements for Black Friday sales at Walmart in November [48] [49], but I am still fond of musicals, nonetheless. On Wednesdays, mean Barbies wear pink [5] [51]. [52]
It will be time to bid Frozen: The Musical in London a farewell this September [36], which is quite saddening, but love will still be an open door (as long as you know that you cannot marry someone you just met [34]). In addition to the lighter note, the musical premiered in Louisville yesterday [20]. [35]
In conclusion, I may not be too surprised if a Broadway musical adaption of Barbie: The Movie happens due to its billion-dollar success [17] [47] [54] [60] [96] [106]. If Greta Gerwig, the genius who wrote and directed the film prefers a stage musical adaption of the film into a musical over establishing a direct sequel or a spin-off centred on Ken [17] [100], that is fine by me. Chances are that it would be considered not as stylishly impactful as the film [16] [77] [78], but I can still see it beaming in some familiar appeal, which is an essence I sensed as I saw Frozen: The Musical in London with my fiancé and discussed the differences between it and the film with him afterwards back in 2022 [90]. I could also be up for a new Star Wars film centred on Rey Skywalker, but I think it just needs to be done right to an extent [3] [43]. In the meantime, there is a big compilation of Margot Robbie’s “Barbie” looks and more information regarding the costume design in Barbie: The World Tour this March around the same time Princess Peach stars in her second own game titled “Princess Peach: Showtime!” and a new duet of pastel pink Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers become available alongside its release [61] [66] [67]. Let us see the brightest Northern lights yet and wish Mattel’s plastic superstar a happy 65th anniversary in 2024 [76] [104].
I have come a long way since I played with quite a lot of Barbie dolls as a child. As the plastic starlet’s live-action film returns to the big screen tomorrow [11], there will be another Fang Vote for the guys and ghouls to decide the design of a new outfit for Jinafire Long [57]. Fans of Nicki Minaj can keep vibing to her raps from Pink Friday 2 and I will look forward to watching the rest of the first season of Hazbin Hotel on Prime Video after we hazbeans wished Eric Schwartz, the voice of Chaz from the second season of Helluva Boss a happy birthday [53] [63] [64] [65] [73] [79] [88]. And a special thanks to Plushi Stolas for building a lovely castle in Minecraft for me [70]! [61]
Oh! And before we head back to the real world, here is a shout-out to a Barbenheimer film that is currently in development [44]. Quite an interesting concept in honour of one of the biggest memes of 2023 [101]. Speaking of films, I sure hope Deadpool has not hijacked another car from Barbie Land [28] [75] [104]. Until then, just imagine your comfort character on a road trip with you…looking disgruntled [22], like some reactions to that parody of Bella Swan realising that Edward Cullen is a vampire performed by Frankie Stein and Draculaura [56] [94]. [44]
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Barbies and GentleKens, I proudly present…a brief analysis of the aftermath of Barbie: The Movie! It has been half a year since the ambitiously marketed feminist masterpiece was released and became a hit that made over a billion dollars [7] [92] [93] [94]. There has been some speculation on how the film can gradually progress into a franchise ever since its largely profitable success [92] [93] [94]. The designing of the Barbie Land sets allegedly caused a global pink paint shortage and a lot of pink within the film’s marketing must have been quite a headache for those who do not like the colour [65] [82] [92], but the cinematic power of pink continues with some new recipes at Kaspa’s to promote the brand new film based on the Broadway musical adaption of Mean Girls [53] [54] [55] [71]. Hop on this light blue 1950s Corvette as we head back to Barbie Land after listening to Deadpool’s speech on Mr. Lively’s behalf about winning a broken Emmy [3] [52] [76]! Yes, it is the one that can be spotted outside a Barbie’s dreamhouse [7] [52]. And no, I am not the one driving. The merc with a mouth is the driver because “Do not hijack Barbie’s car!” is not one of his New Year’s resolutions [86].
“That’s right! Get in, loser [59]! Laura is writing another article about the Barbie movie and the musical reboot of Mean Girls is out now in the USA [71], which is a convenient time for me to tell you to get in for the sake of quoting the original AND the musical reboot [59] [60]! Barbie’s box-office hit is pretty much Black Panther for all the lovely white women out there [42]. Not that I would judge my little Laurapop for adoring it [41]! And I certainly wouldn’t blame her for being so thrilled to finally see the first Deadpool 3 trailer that might be shown at this year’s Superbowl first [40] [70]. God bless you for that beautiful motorcycle helmet you wore in Las Vegas, Esteban Ocon [68]! And God bless Wrexham’s soccer team for its sexy co-ownership [76]! Take it away, Laura honey!” [76]
Thank you very much, Deadpool! Some would say that my approval of Barbie: The Movie is just a “phase”, but even the New Year’s fireworks ceremony in London expressed some Barbie flair with a lot of pink fireworks [28]. Now, what else is there to say about one of the most successful films of 2023 [27]? [39] [51]
The film and its creative team’s achievements have been listed one by one through social media posts since October [16] [26], including:
The Hollywood’s Music In Media award for “Best Soundtrack Album” [17]
Eight Astra Awards, including one for “Best Picture” and one for “Best Original Song” [16] [18]
The Golden Globe award for “Best Picture” [13]
The Art Directors Guild nomination for “Best Production Design” [25]
A place in the Top 10 Films of The Year by the American Film Institute [27]
Did I just remind myself of Deadpool listing achievements earned by Nickelback in Once Upon A Deadpool [1]? In addition to Barbie: The Movie’s success and achievements, the latest Q+A panel centred on its acclaim featured Maya Rudolph on the first day and Angelique Jackson on the second day [19] [24]. I am aware that the film’s writing has not handled the issue of patriarchy that well to some of us [7], but interestingly enough, copies of the screenplay in print became available to pre-order a month ago and are exclusively from Faber [20] [21] [44] [46]. The new golden equivalent of the film’s logo with an amethyst as the dot of the “I” say it all in a nutshell. If the term “Go woke, go broke!” is always the case [78], then how come Barbie made over a billion dollars at the box office, became the highest-grossing film of 2023 and won several awards [13] [17] [18] [92] [93] [94]?
Wait! You do not suspect that Golden Queen from Skylanders: Trap Team is behind this transformation [84] [95] [96], no? Hopefully, some adorableness from the seventh generation of the Littlest Pet Shop franchise can take our minds off the possibility of being turned into gold by her [35]. [15]
Eat your vampiric hearts out, Twilight book covers [56] [62]! Not that it is wise to always judge a book by its cover though… [46]
Coincidentally, a new line of Barbie dolls has been revealed during the latest posts on the social media accounts promoting the movie and such bragging about its nominations [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]. The line titled “Career of the Year” in quite a Dr. Seuss style includes [36]:
An actress with a Barbie doll’s equivalent of an Oscar [9]
A director with a script [11]
A studio executive with a white smartphone [10]
A blonde-haired cinematographer [12]
Why not let one of the dolls based on Margot Robbie as “Stereotypical” Barbie be a co-star on set [5]? I would still love to see an official autistic Barbie that is respectfully and accurately portrayed and NOT associated with Autism Speaks at some point [77] [83] [88]. No blue jigsaw puzzles please! The importance of producing toys representing various occupations aimed at girls is undeniable [8], which is no wonder why I hoped for a second version of Pixel Stars Digital Dreamhouse that featured three new characters who are a musician, a writer, and a sportswoman nearly three years ago [91]. Please continue to give the hardworking women in the film industry, from the writers to the actresses some admiration and support, especially as we have at least learned something from the strikes in Hollywood and a few disturbing exposures [79] [87].
This doll line could be the one female filmmakers will endorse! [8]
Let us look back on quite a firm suggestion for an effective sequel to Barbie or a spin-off centred on Ken [93] [94]. I still stand by how the problem surrounding the matriarchy of Barbie Land pushing Ken to corrupt it into a patriarchal equivalent of it called “Kendom” could have been handled better in a spin-off film simply titled “Ken” as he has a lot of potential to redeem himself whilst discovering his own identity without relying on the role as a Barbie doll’s boyfriend that a Ken doll has played since 1961 [7] [14]. After all, the film has been accused of misandristic undertones but was ultimately praised for its elements of feminism in honour of what Barbie stands for, especially in today’s society [7] [20] [92]. Quite similarly, “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor, one of the most popular songs of 2014 was praised for its elements of body positivity but criticised and satirised for fighting fire with fire as a music critic can tell by its signs of shaming skinniness [6] [38] [69] [85]. I am sure that there will be more shades and tints of pink for new Barbies to pull off in Barbie Land [63] [64], but more importantly, there ought to be no fighting pink fire with blue fire as Ken vows to redeem himself [93] [94].
And speaking of redemption, can Nine be redeemed near the end of the third season of Sonic Prime [67] [80]? I guess I ought to find out with my fiancé, even as a former Sonic the Hedgehog fan. Not that I would leak any spoilers as there is currently a lot of aggravation towards footage of the first season of Hazbin Hotel getting leaked [4]. [67]
And as always, if anyone’s claim is mentioned in an article of mine in a negative light or just simply for having an opinion that is not concluded to my own, please do not go and attack them as they are references to back up my own statements, not to encourage witch-hunting or viciously shame people solely for their opinions [89] [90]. Please leave the “Keep your opinion to yourself!” mentality in 2016 [45] [73]. Trust me, I know how aggravating it has been to be a target of it from experience. [58]
In conclusion, Barbie: The Movie deserves the praise it got for its humour, set designs and depth [7] [20], but a sequel or spin-off can make up for its accusations of misandry within political satire [92]. It is currently available for streaming on Max [22] [58]. Perhaps a sequel to the film could alternatively result in a crossover with Hot Wheels, G.I. Joe, or another live-action interpretation of Monster High to take the cinematography and set designs to the next level…or there can be a reboot of the infamous Bratz movie from 2007 that notably makes up for all its flaws [26] [29] [32] [37]. After all, there is a spookily adorable collaboration between Polly Pocket and Monster High for fans of a ‘90s kid’s pint-sized playmate to open and close [81]. Speaking of spooky cuteness, raunchiness and redemption in the Pride Ring of Hell await sinners on Prime Video in about a week after the first few spoiler-free critical takes on the first season of Hazbin Hotel [48] [49] [50] [74]. Lately, I feel like I am not smart enough to be interesting [23], but as someone who owned quite a lot of Barbie dolls as a child [88], I wish the plastic fashion icon a happy 65th anniversary [34]. Anything else you would like to say, Deadpool?
“As always, leave the naming and shaming to Daddy, Laura. Thanks for featuring me in an article on Barbie Quinn’s big financial success once again [88] [94]! I am NOT jealous at all! well, except that there is possibly a little bit of envy in my voice. You are at least smart enough to have written articles about me [87]. I’d better get my sexy ass into the Valentine’s Day flair next month as I’m stayin’ alive with my stunt double [47] [66]. See you in the first official trailer for Deadpool 3 eventually and Deadpool Volume 10 this April, reader [40] [57] [70]!” [75]
Thank you for the special guest appearance once again, Deadpool who just HAD to hijack another car from Warner Bros. [86]! I still suspect that a follow-up to Barbie: The Movie can introduce Teresas and Christies in Barbie Land [30] [33] [92], as well as some deeper character exploration for Beach Ken, possibly a lovely purple princess castle for Princess Barbies to reside in and perhaps a stable for all the Kendom horses and some new Barbie Land pegasi and unicorns to be cared for in [93] [94], quite like the ones Plushi Fantail built in Minecraft recently [72]. Have a blast at this year’s MegaCon at London, all you cool cosplayers in Britain [43] [61]! [2]
Auckland New Zealand Toy Cars 1. (2024). Unboxing Hot Wheels Barbie The Movie 1956 Corvette HW Screen Time. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icfBV91hSTU. Last accessed 11th Jan 2024.
Azusa Barbie. (2023). Barbie The Movie The Doll | Review video of Margot Robbie Doll, Pink Barbie Corvette, and MORE!!!. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pspqKY9FLs. Last accessed 12th Jan 2024.
Beauty Inside A Box. (2023). Teresa: The History Of Barbie’s Latina Friend (And Lover)!. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIOha6BqkUI. Last accessed 1st Dec 2023.
Brøderbund. (1996). Living Books – Green Eggs and Ham. PC. California, United States.
Bryanna, T. (2022). EVERYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRATZ MOVIE (colorism, stereotypes, cheesy). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lnq3YqBvpo. Last accessed 11th Jan 2024.
Hot Wheels Hunting UK. (2023). Hot Wheels 1956 Barbie Corvette (BLUE) (Q Case) Review And Showcase! “Amazing levels of detail!”. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjzqGEXVerY. Last accessed 11th Jan 2024.
Sky News Australia. (2023). Go Woke Go Broke: The fall of mighty brands to the woke agenda. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qildxk9Z7AM. Last accessed 11th Jan 2024.
SLOAN. (2023). Bill Cosby is a MONSTER (Exposing The Most Dangerous PREDATOR in Hollywood). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHDR11YMU2g. Last accessed 12th Jan 2024.
In all honesty, 2019 has sadly not been the best year for yours truly. I felt alone in today’s society at times. Brexit kept being shoved in my ears almost every day and I felt like the society within my country did not sincerely care about people like me anymore [35] [215] [216]. Despite how scared, anxious and hopeless I have felt for months, I at least received a few great opportunities to voice some characters for a talented aspiring artist on YouTube and I will always be grateful for them [62] [63] [64] [65]. Additionally, I considered Frozen II to be a masterpiece after watching it at the cinema [55]. There is also one thing I will praise 2019 for. And that is no other than the fact that so many great anniversary celebrations occurred. I love celebrating anniversaries, thus I am more than thrilled to make a nice list of anniversaries that have been worth celebrating in 2019. To those who have enjoyed reading my articles this year, I hope this one will be the icing on the cake. Speaking of cake, feel free to send your birthday cake emojis as we party through a bunch of anniversaries I believe were truly worth celebrating [43].
Come on! Who doesn’t love a birthday cake emoji? [43]Let us start with the 30th anniversary of the tale of everyone’s favourite red-haired mermaid from Disney. Thank Mickey Mouse the writers decided to not end the movie unhappily, compared to how the little mermaid passed away by turning into sea foam in the original tale [151]. Other than that, let us not forget some special editions of excellently made dolls of the iconic mermaid who gave up her voice for a chance to win Prince Eric’s heart [86] [88] [89]. Even some new Funko Pop! figures have been released in association with the celebration under the sea [6]. I honestly have nothing against Halle Bailey as Ariel in a live-action remake of the film as she seems to have plenty of talent in singing to suit the role [44] [100]. Other than my thoughts on that, I think that the live television adaption of the iconic tale simply titled “The Little Mermaid Live!” was a pretty interesting adaption for modern audiences, especially the young ones who have never watched the original animated film [1] [2]. Who would have thought the voice of Moana would be the next Ariel [1] [90]? Keep swimming on, whether you are part of that world or not, you poor unfortunate souls [2].
I have no mouth, fully black eyes. Striking a pose, I’m really pint-sized. Toys for the win! Looks like I’m in…Funko Pop! world. [1] [6]This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty, another Walt Disney classic [87]. The movie is much older than The Little Mermaid, but still as iconic nonetheless [37]. Besides, there has also been special Aurora dolls in association with her movie’s 60th anniversary [87]. I bet there were plenty of cosplayers cosplaying as Princess Aurora or Briar Rose to celebrate the anniversary. Some could say that Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil would be a decent modern association with the 60th anniversary [208], despite its predecessor’s rather mixed reception [61]. Too bad the lovely Aurora has been considered to be the least empowered princess of Disney history, but at least she can still be well-loved by many Disney nerds and very young girls [37] [179]. I could sure use a spindle to try and sleep better at night, as long as I have a sleepover with my boyfriend so that he can kiss me to wake me up. Oh, and I would also need to have a small plaster for my bleeding fingertip. What if Aurora wore a green dress instead of a pink one or a blue one? That would have been a really interesting twist.
Kiss me, you fool. [179]I would also like to mention the 10th anniversary of The Princess and the Frog. I remember watching the movie on the Grand Princess cruise when I was a teenager. I like how it adds a twist to the original trope of a frog being turned into a prince from the lips of a princess [181]. Tiana, the movie’s protagonist is still an awesome character to this day as she seems to be one of the more feminist and the most realistically developed princess, having the goal of working hard enough to own the restaurant of her father’s dreams rather than getting into a relationship with handsome prince efficiently [180] [181]. My favourite song from the film would have to be “Almost There” because it would be the feeling of being close to getting into college, university, a new job or a new home [181]. Could the movie from late 2009 about Disney’s first black princess receive an official sequel after the success and appeal of Frozen II [55]? I honestly would like that to happen as it truly deserved the positive reception it earned for a realistic female protagonist, delightful musical numbers and a unique take on the classic tale.
Tiana is such an awesome character! [180]Do you remember Polly Pocket? Even though I played with some examples of the bigger dolls with rubber clothes with an old friend as a child in the 2000s [148], I say the compact playsets from the 1990s were more memorable [119]. Furthermore, Polly Pocket, the cheerful pint-sized sweetheart returned to her vintage form in a special recreation of the Partytime Surprise Keepsafe Compact from 1989 to celebrate her 30th anniversary [83] [101] [198]. I just love its dazzling purple coat that consists of glitter and festiveness within its groovy interior. The appeal and success of the toy must have made up for how disappointing the 2018 reboot of the toy line from Mattel has been so far for plenty of old-school Polly Pocket fans, even though I can see it tried to fuse the 1990s and 2000s eras of Polly Pocket all together into one [102] [187]. And yes, Hot Topic also help celebrated Polly’s 30th anniversary by releasing a special Polly-themed collection [159]. Despite my fondness of the bigger dolls that could be dressed up, I honestly would like the next reboot of Polly Pocket can provide compact playsets that are very like the one from the 1990s.
Isn’t this a beautiful recreation of a classic toy from 1989 [83]?Speaking of Mattel, Barbie’s 60th anniversary must have been a blast, especially for huge Barbie doll collectors. My younger sister and I had a big bunch of Barbie dolls when we were children. Furthermore, you can say that I was a huge fan of Barbie as a child. I say the gorgeous layered dress she wore to celebrate her 60th year was quite stunning and her Proudly Pink doll was vintage yet vibrant [10] [98] [207]. I still remember seeing the recreation of her debut outfit from 2009 in association with her 50th anniversary [178]. As the Barbie Vlogs series progressed on the official YouTube channel, I saw the iconic beauty queen herself with light pink hair during her elevator challenge with Ken and thought it looked stunningly lovely [11]. It was probably a reference to the 60th-anniversary doll of her that consisted of pink hair [207]. Regardless of how any controversial Barbie dolls there were throughout the years, including the pregnant Midge doll from 2003 and the Slumber Party Barbie from 1965 [95] [186], I would say she still holds that feminist message today of inspiring young girls to become anything they want. How the heck does Barbie not age a day?!
Ooh la la! [10]The popular British talk show, Loose Women also threw a 20th-anniversary celebration for their loyal viewers to watch [78]. To those who may be unaware of what the show is about, its premise is a group of women answering questions related to difficult topics that would occur at some point during adult life [76]. I remember how all of us wished the lovely and talented Stacey Soloman a happy 30th birthday this year [81], which was a nice bonus to the show’s 20th-anniversary celebration, even though her fame debut was on The X Factor back in 2009 [165] [188]. Speaking of celebration, I bet plenty of viewers in the current generation still remember Loose Women’s 18th birthday back in 2017 [82]. Remember that old introduction of the show with a pink filter for the presenters [136]? Remember the one with an orange filter [99]? I think plenty of us still miss any of the previous sets and title sequences to a degree, depending on each previous series we remember the most [76] [79], but the current set and title sequence looks great as well [77] [80]. After so many logos, title sequences, set designs, and mature topics to discuss from 1999 to 2019 [70] [79], Loose Women deserved a great 20th-anniversary celebration.
The current pack of loose women in the current set of the television show that has reached its 20th Anniversary mark. [78]Sesame Street’s 50th anniversary was celebrated with more than just a special logo [142] [145] [146]. When I was a very young child in the early 2000s, I played Sesame Street: Numbers and Sesame Street: Letters on my family’s old computer at my first home [30] [31]. As an adult, I admire how plenty of episodes were not afraid to discuss serious real-life topics in a way that dies not corrupt its child-friendly appeal, such as Big Bird knowing about Mr. Hooper’s death back in 1983 [96] [126]. Another sign of Sesame Street maintaining its strength of bringing realistic issues into a child-friendly light would be the time when its South African version introduced Kami, a young muppet with HIV in 2002 [53] [97] [199]. What I especially love about Sesame Street in this decade is the rather accurate portrayal of Julia, the adorable orange-haired muppet who has autism and the way the other characters treat her with outstanding respect [143] [144]. Additionally, they also introduced a new muppet named Karli for teaching children about being in foster care and a parent’s addiction this year [38]. Looking through its history of character introductions, character alternations and such [52] [53], you can tell the show truly has evolved from its first airing back in 1969.
A reversed rainbow of our beloved muppets from Sesame Street. [142] [145] [146]I do no doubt that many Nintendo nerds acknowledged the 30th anniversary of the Game Boy, especially the old school Nintendo nerds [58] [169]. Surely you could only see black LCD on a green screen and it does not look very easing at times, but that consisted was the old school charm that was the part of many 90s kids’ childhoods. And yes, it began the legend of playing Pokémon on a handheld with Pokémon Red and Pokémon Blue [120]. Ah, good old Generation One. As the years of the Game Boy went by, there were various accessories to either enhance the experience or make it…interesting [133] [169]. I swear that I did not write this article on a Game Boy with the Work Boy add-on [133]! As someone who will always be humbled by classic portable gaming, I wonder if at least several Game Boys are still being played on by our dear old schoolers, whether they are light grey, black or any other colour [169]. As for me, I would take a selfie with a Game Boy camera and decorate it like how I did with my black Nintendo DSi when I was a teenager [133].
Fancy an official 2020s edition of this nostalgic handheld system called “Game Girl”? I do. [169]And speaking of Nintendo, 2019 marks its 130th anniversary. Would you believe that they started with handmade Hanafuda cards in Japan from 1889 to 1928 [112] [113] [170]? In the late 70s and early 80s, Nintendo’s legacy as a successful video game company spawned [112] [113] [170]. When I was a child in the 2000s, I had a blue and yellow Pikachu themed Nintendo 64 in my bedroom [114]. The two games I played on that system were Pokémon Snap and Super Mario 64 [106] [107]. Additionally, my first ever Nintendo DS game was Nintendogs: Dachshund & Friends, even though it was on my original pink DS that sadly had poor collaboration [105]. I later got into Wii gaming with Wii Sports, Wii Play, Mario Kart Wii and so on as a preteen [104] [109] [110]. This year as an adult, I sincerely hope the workers and fans of Nintendo enjoyed celebrating the one hundred and thirtieth year of a big business that has won the hearts of many gamers. Despite how positively I reviewed Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo’s newest third-party mobile application [217] [218], many have criticized its greedy tactics when it came to microtransactions [212]. Nevertheless, that should not overshadow the huge celebration. Here is to another year of the Switch’s legacy [112] [113] [170].
I hope you all enjoyed celebrating Nintendo’s 130th birthday, fellow Nintendo nerds! [170]Ah, the SEGA Dreamcast. It was thinking of its 20th anniversary outside of Japan [153]. It is shame that its financial failure caused SEGA to lose a lot of funds, but it will still be remembered for many great titles, including Sonic Adventure, the game that changed Sonic the Hedgehog forever and Sonic Adventure 2, its sequel that marked Sonic’s 10th anniversary and introduced Shadow the Hedgehog and Rouge the Bat [130] [152] [153] [155] [156]. Let us not forget the Dreamcast port of Crazy Taxi that could make you question each passenger’s trust in the driver’s reckless driving [211]. And let us not forget about Seaman on the Dreamcast, which had a weirdly creative premise of taking care of a bizarre creature and at least a decent use of the microphone accessory [134]. Will SEGA have the courage and steady finances to finally develop a successor to the Dreamcast for the next gaming generation? Probably not, but at least we can all actually look forward to the upcoming live-action Sonic the Hedgehog movie after its interpretation of blue blur was redesigned to rapidly increase its potential [117]. As for the original Dreamcast, we can always still think of it for the rest of our gaming days.
The SEGA Dreamcast and its logos. They’re thinking. [153]
Oh. Remember Sonic the Hedgehog as a DJ? He will need to stay focused and not get distracted at the thoughts of an upcoming game next time. [130] [152]Besides another Sonic monopoly game [157], 2019 also marked the 30th anniversary of the SEGA Mega Drive, otherwise known as “SEGA Genesis” in North America [154]. Yes, I know it was firstly released in Japan back in October 1988, but the 30th anniversary can still be celebrated outside of Japan because of how it was released outside of Japan about three months later [154]. Besides, we humans celebrate our 21st birthdays especially. As usual, we will always remember the Mega Drive for how it introduced us to the speedy blue rodent back in 1991 and later presented his adorable two-tailed sidekick in 1992 [140] [141]. The SEGA Mega Drive Mini, the old school console’s miniature counterpart is highly likely to help continue the trend of miniature versions of classic consoles for old school gamers [129] [137]. Who knows if that trend will continue from how it started with the NES: Classic Edition back in late 2016 [18] [49] [50]? A miniature version of Nintendo 64 called “Nintendo 64: Classic Edition” released at the time I get grey hair would really rock my socks. As for the 30th anniversary of the Mega Drive, does anyone fancy playing the first Sonic the Hedgehog game on an oversized Mega Drive controller [69]?
Shout-out to the ’90s kids who loved the Mega Drive! [137]Hey simmers, have you noticed that 2019 is also the 10th anniversary of The Sims 3 [183] [185]? From 2009 to 2013, there were eleven expansion packs for enhancing the base game, along with ten stuff packs for enriching a sim’s life. There were also eleven downloadable worlds that were available from The Sims 3 store [185]. I still remember trying the game out on my laptop when I was just sweet sixteen and creating a Betty Boop sim [192], as well as two male sims based on Mordecai and Rigby from Regular Show [19] [195] [196]. Even though it was interesting to see the childhood’s Mortimer and Bella Goth, I even created them as adults with their daughter Cassandra as a teenager and her son Alexander as a toddler [197]. Ah, the good old days. Due to its critical acclaim and appeal for introducing new aspects, including personality traits and much more customization for a sim’s appearance [185] [195] [196], I can say it is indeed one of the best-selling PC games of all time and has aged rather well. If there ought to be The Sims 5, I think I would prefer it being just an HD version of The Sims for old time’s sake [184].
A special collector’s edition of The Sims 3. [185]The Simpsons has officially been running for 30 years [115]! Wow! Lisa Simpson will always be my favourite character in the show. Yeah, many of us do believe that the animated sitcom has overstayed its welcome and went downhill after its first nine seasons [219]. I personally believe that the series should have ended after the releases of The Simpsons Movie and The Simpsons Game in 2007 as I believed that they both would have been part of a truly memorable finale to an iconic cartoon [40] [182]. Nevertheless, I enjoyed playing The Simpsons: Tapped Out on my iPod Touch during my first year at college [39]. Rumour has it that the show will finally end in 2020 [115], which I suppose is for the best as television shows that run for a long time tend to show signs of a plot being recycled. Johnny Test was one of those shows that pulled the stunt [66] [67] [68]. But even if The Simpsons will not run for a few more seasons, I would be thrilled if they let an HD re-release of The Simpsons: Hit & Run happen [204]. Unfortunately, I do not have my fingers crossed, even if they would be yellow if I went to Springfield.
No sky? D’oh! [75]If only Stephen Hillenberg was here to celebrate the 20th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants [45] [162] [163] [164]. As he rests in peace, we still reflect on how timeless and memorable the episodes of the first few seasons of SpongeBob were, including Chocolate With Nuts and Band Geeks [7] [160]. Yes, I can say this includes the variety of internet memes involving the yellow fry cook [17]. The way the voice actors for each main character re-enacted the most memorable scenes from the earlier seasons while briefly cosplaying as their roles at The Trusty Slab is brilliant [163]. And let us not forget about the special, Spongebob’s Big Birthday Blowout [45] [162] [164]. A spin-off that could suddenly be disrespectful towards Hillenberg’s wishes [202]? We will pass, thank you very much. On a lighter note, the SpongeBob: Sponge on the Run trailer provides refreshing new animation that is exclusive for the film and a promising premise [116]. Furthermore, only showing SpongeBob as a child temporarily in the film shall be hopefully not disrespectful to Hillenburg. As for the main series that is still running on Nickelodeon, the Halloween-themed introduction for its latest Halloween special was pretty zany [161]. Fancy living! Here we come! La la la la la [160]!
Our cheerful fry cook with his Krusty Krew for his 20th anniversary. [45]After so many movies and TV shows throughout the years, I guess good old Scooby-Doo deserves a pretty good 50th anniversary [210], despite those high risks of the premise becoming rather stale and too predictable [167] [168]. He was my favourite cartoon character when I was a very young child. It was brilliant that the Loose Women even cosplayed as Scooby-Doo and his human pack this year [77] [80], which feels like two anniversaries for the price of one. And who would except that the gang would resort to competing against the Teen Titans in Teen Titans GO [21]? The upcoming animated film titled “Scoob” seems to be ready to start a whole new era of the mystery-solvers’ legacies with a refreshingly new 3D animation style in 2020 [57] [209]. It looks like Scoob will be a reboot of the franchise as it the teaser trailer portrays Shaggy and Scooby when they first met in their younger days, along with how they first met Fred, Daphne, and Velma [57] [209]. Even though plenty of us still believe that Scooby and his friends have overstayed their welcome, I suppose some of us can at least raise our glasses and say “To another fifty years!” without having to unmask anyone…for now.
Scooby-Doo and his team competing in a game show hosted by Control Freak. [21]Let us not forget about the 50th anniversary of the iconic moon landing [3]. No matter how many times conspiracy theorists have tried to convince us that the moon landing was a staged hoax all along [135] [189], its special anniversary still hit news headlines this year. And yes, there was a joke regarding the conspiracy theory in Minions, the movie about a certain pack of short yellow species from 2015 [92]. Nevertheless, I shall not hop onto that bandwagon as you will not see me with a tinfoil hat on my head [48]. No offence to Alex Jones. I even managed to spot a poster of the second human being to set foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin at the Apple Museum in Prague. In addition to such a huge impact it left on humanity, many of us are excited for letting a woman set foot on the moon, thus bringing back a nostalgic memory of something truly unforgettable and adding a small but notable twist to it [213]. Furthermore, many of us will always be humbled when looking back at various reports of the landing on the moon. Rest in peace, Mr. Armstrong [214].
A photograph of a poster featuring Buzz Aldrin at the Apple Museum in Prague. [Williams, 2019]Primark’s 50th anniversary was also celebrated with its biggest shop yet opening [122] [124] [177]. My mother and I admire Primark, otherwise known as “Penneys” in Ireland for a wide range of such stunning clothes and accessories their shops would offer [122], even though staying around there for too long can be rather exhausting for me. Yes, that is just me, but at least I could still purchase a new cosplay outfit and accessory from Primark after the Christmas season. I know I can also rely on Primark for how its community strongly condemns modern slavery and human trafficking [121]. Who knows? Another paid job or voluntary work experience I get could be in a Primark shop. But for now, why not check out their latest Winter sales and see which clothes and accessories for the season suit you best [60]? Speaking of Winter sales, I could briefly cosplay as Lara Croft in her Winter outfit from Rise of the Tomb Raider in the future [191]. I now wonder what stunning clothes my grandmothers bought from Primark and wore with style back in 1969. As for me in the present, I would be delighted to dine at Primark’s Disney café soon [42] [123] [125].
The 50th anniversary bag my mother got from a Primark shop this year. [Williams, 2019]And let us not forget about Tesco and its 100th anniversary, my fellow Brits [93]. After almost eight decades of business that started back in 1919, Tesco spawned Tesco Express for petrol stations in 1994 [73]. In 1998, the company in Thailand merged with Lotus [74]. And let us not forget Tesco Direct, Tesco’s website that was launched in 2006 [72]. Tesco may have been unsuccessful in America [24], but at least it is still trusted by many folks in England, Poland, Czech Republic, China, Thailand, and Ireland today [71] [74] [176]. In the current generation of the United Kingdom, several of us probably boogied out to a few versions of the groovy advert and many of us were amazed at the nostalgic references, including Morph and a shopper in a funky 70s outfit [91] [173] [174]. Of course, the moment of an astronaut floating around in the shop to gather some grub is a possible reference to the moon landing that was reported around the world back in 1969 [174]. Again, two anniversary celebrations for the price of one! As we maintain proactivity for future generations, Tesco may keep delivering Christmas for another hundred years [175]. Whether you shop at Tesco Metro, Tesco Extra or Tesco Express, every little helps [176].
A whole century of a business is a heck of a long time. [173] [174]Another 100th anniversary celebrated this year is the one of Felix the Cat [33]. Such a wonderful, wonderful cat, isn’t he [28]? Too bad he did not have the best story way under a different name back in 1919. It was sad to see him attempt to end his own life by putting a gas hose in his mouth, which is definitely something you would not expect to see in cartoons today [51] [149]. Luckily, we saw him as a much more cheerful character years later and we still do today, especially when he reaches into his bag of tricks. A notable example would be the time when an escalator spawned from his bag and reached an apple tree back in 1959 [201]. Some other examples of the bag’s magic were from Felix’s own movie from 1989, despite its negative reception [41] [166]. In the mid-1990s, Felix starred in another television series titled “The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat” [33]. An example of his legacy in the 2010s would be that Felix the Cat application I have played on my iPod Touch back in Summer 2012 [193] [194]. Just like Barbie, how does the cat not age a day?!
Felix the Cat! The wonderful, wonderful cat! Whenever he gets in a fix, he reaches into his bag of tricks! [28]And last, but not least, 2019 marks the 80th anniversary of Batman [4] [34]. I bet there were plenty of Batman cosplayers out there who celebrated, along with some Robin cosplayers. Back in 1939, Batman debuted in an issue of Detective Comics [22]. Strangely enough, he and his sidekick Robin did make occasional appearances in the first season of Sesame Street back in 1970 [52]. Looking back at that could also be celebrating two anniversaries for the price of one. But wait! Another two for the one of price sensation came from how Batman even did yet another crossover with Scooby-Doo and his pack of human allies in Scooby-Doo and Guess Who [59] [213]? Batman’s collaboration with Fortnite this year sure was zany [54] [190]. And speaking of gaming, at least we do not have to worry about the poorly made video games based on his legacy anymore. Good times, right Angry Video Game Nerd [131] [132]? Nevertheless, the 2010s video games he starred in were exceptional to plenty of gamers, including Batman: Arkham City [209]. As long as DC does not back down on publishing new comics, here is to another decade with the dark knight [34], whether his iconic suit is blue and grey or fully black.
EIGHTY YEARS OF BATMAAAAAAAN!!! [34]Before we conclude this compilation, here are some honourable mentions:
The 125th anniversary of Barbour [14]
The 25th anniversary of PlayStation [118]
The 30th anniversary of Wallace and Gromit [15] [150]
The 20th anniversary of Disney’s animation adaption of Tarzan [172] [206]
The 10th anniversary of Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time [158]
The 10th anniversary of Megurine Luka, the glamourous pink-haired VOCALOID with an angelic voice [205]
The 2nd anniversary of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp [103] [111]
The 20th anniversary of Rayman 2: The Great Escape [127]
The 20th anniversary of Donkey Kong 64, the Nintendo 64 game that had a memorable yellow cartridge in Australia and North America [128]
The 10th anniversary of Up, Pixar’s masterpiece about an old man who made his house fly with lots of balloons [200]
The 10th anniversary of Coraline, the stop-motion film based on the novel with the same name [29] [85]
The 10th anniversary of Avatar, the thrilling live-action movie about a mysterious blue alien race [9]
The 15th anniversary of Mean Girls, a fetch chick flick [46] [84]
The 10th of a YouTube channel I recommend, MrMarioFan12 [94]
The 10th anniversary of Sonny With A Chance [36]
The 20th anniversary of Sonic Underground [47]
The 10th anniversary of The Annoying Orange [8]
The 50th anniversary of the 50 pence coin within British currency [15]
The 30th anniversary of the internet [56]
Feel free to make your own list of honourable mentions of other special anniversaries that I have not been mentioned, yet you have noticed in 2019.
All hail Queen Luka! [205]
“Isn’t it honourable to be on a 50p, lad?” [15] [150]Of course, awesome anniversaries do not just get celebrated in 2019. Remember Mario’s 30th anniversary back in 2015 [108], Sonic the Hedgehog’s 20th anniversary back in 2011 and the 20th anniversary of The Powerpuff Girls last year [20] [139]? I bet many of us also had a blast celebrating the previous special anniversaries of the things I listed back in 2009, including Barbie’s 50th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Sleeping Beauty [12] [13] [37] [178]. More anniversaries of the things we appreciate and admire will await us in the 2020s and so on. I would love to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Sonic Colours with my boyfriend as I had a blast with that game on my Nintendo Wii when I was a teenager [138]. I can also celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tangled, Disney’s beautifully animated adaption of Rapunzel from 2010 [171]. Again, I would love The Sims to be officially remastered in 2020 as a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the successful life-simulation series [184]. Such a huge method worked out brilliantly for Spyro the Dragon in association with his 20th anniversary last year, right [5]? I will see you all in the next year of the rat, fellow writers and creators [27]. Squeak!
Hopefully 2019 has been great for you if your Chinese Zodiac sign is the pig [26]. We just need to wait for the next year of the rat, including me. [27]References
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Laura's Ambitious Writing 