Adventure Time: Season One has finally come out in one DVD pack, and I couldn’t have been happier when it arrived. I say FINALLY because, lets be real–the show is already on season four and this is the first complete season we’re getting on DVD. There are plenty of other episodes available on DVD, but none are a complete season, which has been mildly obnoxious. But now that season one is here, it’s pretty mathematical.
Before we even get into the content on the two discs (and there’s way more than I expected), we have to look at the packaging. I’m not sure whether it’s a good or bad thing that the packaging is my favorite part of this DVD. It keeps things simple while still being incredibly clever.
Finn’s face is on the cover, his backpack is on the back, and the discs are where they should be: inside his head, like so–
The Episode guide is the inside of his face. Disc one is his skull, and disc two is his brain! If I were to go ahead and over-analyze this design, I would probably say that it somehow indicates all the events of the episodes are happening inside Finn’s mind, as though it were all a dream and never really happened at all. But I’d never go that far.
The only disappointing part of the DVD is that commentary is only featured on four of the episodes: “Trouble in Lumpy Space”, “Prisoners of Love”, “Tree Trunks” and “Ricardio the Heart Guy”. The commentary is done, largely, by Pendleton Ward (The show’s creator), John Dimaggio (the voice of Jake, but also Bender on Futurama), Jeremy Shada (Finn) and Tom Kenny (The Ice King, Spongebob and many others). George Takei joins them on “Ricardio”, an episode in which he also guest-starred as the titular character. You can see why it’s disappointing that there are only four episodes with commentary.
The other features are hit or miss, with the Animatics, which are early story-board versions of four other episodes, being my favorite. These, too, come complete with commentary, and it’s hard to miss how much fun the creative team has working on this show. If you still need more convincing, the Featurette takes you behind the scenes, and then the behind the scenes of the Featurette takes you…behind the scenes of behind the scenes. Finally, the extra titled “Finndemonium” is a short compendium of fanart, cosplayers and convention appearances that all end in a thank you to the fans of Adventure Time.
While this may not be the most comprehensive, end-all-be-all of television on DVD, it’s more than most cartoons get when they’re finally granted a collectible season–at least more than I’ve seen. I like that you can tell these guys are not only grateful that we’re watching their crazy show, but that they love creating it as much as we love watching it. Unless they’re actually Finn’s creations and this is their way of admitting that season one was all a dream.
Here’s to hoping Season Two doesn’t take as long to hit the shelves.
Tandy and Tyrone are two of the most underrated teams of superheroes today. They’re underused and never get their time to really shine. In my attempt to bring them to people’s attention, I give you Cloak and Dagger.
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Once every two years (winter and summer) I get forget that I can’t stand watching televised sports and give it up for the Olympics. How many times did I cry during the opening ceremony? About 5 times. The first was within the first 4 minutes.
What is it about the Olympics that makes me go crazy? It is because these are our best, these are young kids (quite often) that give everything to go compete against the world.
Be right back, needed a tissue.
Snuffles . . . we’re good now.
Every once in awhile I come across something so nifty I feel as if it were created just for me.
That’s how Brian Kesinger’s “Tea Girls” affected me when I first saw his work. Well, that and the overwhelming urge to finally create my Jules Verne-inspired library and line the walls with these.
Both fun and flirty — as well as both silly and seductive, these sepia-styled paintings — using stains made from actual tea — feature the Victorian Steampunk-inspired lasses taking on the human form of varieties of tea. Also of note is his “Otto and Victoria” series, which follows an emerald-haired adventuress through the exploits of the day with her cephalopod companion.
Kesinger, who is a story artist for Walt Disney animation studios, feels despite his subject’s glowing femininity, these gals are no pushovers.
“I try to think of a strong and independent female role model,” Kesinger said. “Someone who is smart and quirky and cares not for what others might think of her.”
Although the “Tea Girls” and “Otto and Victoria” are his most recognizable works, he has also done some impressive Steampunk versions of Optimus Prime, The Avengers, Catwoman and other pop culture icons, and an eight-page comic book “The Intrepid Molly McGuinness” is in the works.
He said he always pleased to see how people relate to his work.
“The most satisfying response I get from people about my work is when they say, ‘oh that’s so me!’ or ‘I know a friend just like that,’” he said. “It means I have tapped into some universal personalities that people can relate to and that my drawing which is just a bunch of lines is actually a character that generates a feeling of familiarity in the viewer. That is pretty cool.”
More of Kesinger’s works work can be seen and purchased at bkartonline.com.
If you’ve watched Avatar: The Last Airbender, you may have come across the blind badass, Toph Beifong. Hilariously sarcastic, tough, and headstrong, Toph is the favorite of millions and while we all ponder the possibilites of who fathered her equally badass daughter, Lin, check out today’s art of the day!
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Square Enix has once again brought the classiest of classic gaming to a new port. This time it’s the Android Phone, and the game is Final Fantasy. The original installment of Final Fantasy can now be purchased on Google Play Store for only $6.99, and can be played on all Android 2.1 compatible devices. The Android’s classic installment is an updated version that was originally released for the PSP featuring: a remixed soundtrack, increased 2D graphics, FMV scenes, new dungeons and more. If you’ve never played this installment of Final Fantasy and have an Android in your pocket…buy this, now.