Les Miserables(Book Cast)

Voila, in all their Bookish-Glory!
I probably got some hair colors wrong or something, but this is how they looked in my head while I read the book. Well, okay, they didn't look like shrill blobs of something vaguely human shaped, but you know what I mean, right? XD

Jean Valjean: Why did he come out so tiny? It seems like they just gradually get bigger as the page increases... I think it's because bigger chibis are easier to draw, but I wasn't sure how much room I would have on the page. Poor Jean. He's supposed to be bigger than everyone else! Well, the outfit he's wearing at the moment is supposed to be how he'd go out to the Luxembourg Gardens. Except that he forgot his hat.
Javert: Looking at least somewhat different than his Musical Self. Sad thing is, I always just imagined Javert to look like the actor from the 10th Anniversary, and it doesn't look like anything can dispel that mental image... Ah wells.
Fantine: Having just been fired from the factory. She's all anxiety ridden, and has a patch on her clothes. That indicates um... poverty.
Little Cosette: Poor kid. Looking pretty miserable. I always feel a little odd drawing a terrified child.
Thenardier: I wanted a change from his Sergeant at Waterloo outfit, so I made him dressed like I thought he might be in the 1832 part of the story.
Thenardiess: Tried to make her exactly like the book described her. A monstrous woman with ugly hair... Yeah. Hard to believe this lady likes romance novels. XD
Cosette: Hm. Purple Hat with a Black Dress. Really, Cosette?
Marius: I know, the book said that he had jet black hair. But If I colored his hair like that, he'd be completely black with no other colors. So I had to change it to dark brown. XD
Eponine: Obsessive, jealous, and maybe just a little crazy. So in other words, pretty radically different from her well-groomed musical self.
Gavroche: He has a hat! And is pretty dirty looking, but looks no less happy. He's also apparently making fun of Enjolras behind his back. Speaking of which...
Enjolras: Yeah. Smoking gun. Not good for a certain undercover member of the Patron-Minette. I don't know why I drew him holding the flag though. I mean, in the book, he's not as protective of it as he seemed to be in the movie. XD

G'day!
-Xochitl

Doctor Who Day!

...Was yesterday. XD But that doesn't mean I can't post a cutesy picture of some Doctor Who characters and post it on here, yeah? These are the main characters in Season 5.

 

Okay, from left to right.

River's having the time of her life being enigmatic and confusing... That lump under her arm is the helmet for her astronaut suit(if you can even tell it's an astronaut suit XD). I'm wondering how she'll get that tiny helmet over her gargantuan chibi head.

The Doctor is being annoyed with her flirtatious warnings of spoilers, and doesn't hear Amy calling for him. She's trying to get his attention, because Rory is about to get himself erased by the Crack in the Wall. Yes, that's supposed to be the crack in the wall. Not a silver, flying snake. :P

Well, in true Doctor Who fashion, I hope your day is confusing and full of hamming British/Scottish actors!

Allons-y!

-Xochitl





Spirited Away Soundtrack(2001) [Composed by Joe Hisaishi]

Okay, I'm kind of a Music Freak. One of the things I judge a movie by is it's music, and it's just one of those things that never fails to inspire- especially when I'm writing(which is all the time).
So today, I'm reviewing the Spirited Away soundtrack. Eventually I'll get to the actual movie, but I'm not as good at reviewing actual plots and such. On with the melodramatic ranting! :D And yes. I am going through this track by track. [headdesk]

Track 01: One Summer's Day
Obviously, this is the song that opens the movie. It starts out as a rather quiet song, but escalates to be larger at the end. It’s very beautiful, and you can hear it reprised several times throughout the movie. This song has that sort of bittersweet air, and kind of gives you the sense that something mysterious is about to happen.

Track 02: A Road to Somewhere
True to the mood that the last track set, this song is a little quiet, and builds to the feeling of mystery.

Track 03: The Empty Restaurant
I love the drums that start off this song. And there’s an interesting percussion effect that I can’t quite figure out what it is, but sounds kind of like a drop of water hitting a pond. There’s also more flute in this track. And of course, it’s very eerie. There’s a more dramatic reprise of One Summer’s Day in the second half, too.

Track 04: Nighttime Coming
This song has a lovely oboe and harp part. It starts rather quietly, but turns exciting really fast. In the film, I think this plays after Dragon Boy, but for some reason they put it before on the OST.

Track 05: Dragon Boy
This track is pure awesome. It’s an exciting song that plays twice in the movie, in scenes involving Haku. It begins with a harp repeating the same pattern, joined by a piano and rising in crescendo until BAM! You get hit over the head by a blast of brass. All through the song, the simple theme from the beginning is repeated in the background. One part of the song features tense violins, kind of Howard Shore style, and in another bit, some slightly off-beat Timpani gives the song a perilous feel. In case you haven’t noticed, I really love this song. Haha. Only two minutes, but a very exiting two minutes.

Track 06: Sootballs
Perky flutes start off this track. This song is kind of fun, it’s quirky and has an air of eccentricity. I have to say, great use of woodwinds in this song. I love the sootball sprites in the movie, they’re so adorable!

Track 07: The Procession of the Spirits
Not like it’s much of a surprise, but another amazing track. This song plays when the spirits get off their boat and come to the bathhouse (Yes, I realize what I just said.). It’s whimsical, awe-inspiring, eerie, and even has use of traditional Japanese instruments. Not to mention some haunting vocals. Like Dragon Boy, this song sends shivers up my spine.

Track 08: Yubaba
Where the last track was eerie in a wondrous way, this song is eerie in a downright creepy way. It uses the very highest keys on a piano, and the very lowest. There’s some absolutely freaky vocal work, and an incredibly creepy music box section. At some point, there’s this instrument, I don’t know what it’s called, but it sounds like a wail. Really interesting song, Haha!

Track 09: Bathhouse Morning
Much quieter and more laid back than the haunting Track 8, this song evokes the mental image of a dawn. There’s a quick reprise of the Sootball theme, played by flutes and bassoon. And we get the first hint of the No-Face theme, which is some kind of percussion and triangle riff.

Track 10: Day of the River
Aside from slightly different orchestration, this song is a direct reprise of One Summer’s Day, and a beautiful one at that. I have to say, when Oboe is played right it is so lovely to listen to. The same goes for French Horn.

Track 11: It's Hard Work!
More Japanese instruments, perky flutes, and awesome percussion. And again, we hear the No-Face riff. While it’s not as action packed as some other tracks, this is still really memorable for me.

Track 12: The Stink Spirit
Wow, Hisaishi-San! You’re my hero! I could just die from awesome percussion overdose. I love the violins sliding around, and that Japanese instrument that comes about a minute is so perfect. The song crescendos to sound so awesome and heroic, I feel like getting up, pumping my fists, and cheering. Haha! There’s a little bit of It’s Hard Work! in this track, too. And if you listen closely, a bit of One Summer’s Day.

Track 13: Sen's Courage
Right off the bat, the No-Face riff attacks us. Once again, the music is tense and eventually get action-packed. And there’s a little flute riff that I think I’ve heard in Ponyo, another Studio Ghibli movie.

Track 14: The Bottomless Pit
This song starts off loudly, it made me jump! Then suddenly, it swaps back to that creepy music box theme from Yubaba, and things get a little quieter. This track is probably one of the most action-packed of the OST.

Track 15: Kaonashi(Faceless)
The No-Face theme, previously only heard through short riffs, takes precedence in this track. It’s so haunting and perfect for the character. This song starts relatively calm, but escalates to something stirring and heart-pounding! Sort of Like No-Face himself, now I think of it… Yeah, a really awesome track. I could have sworn that I heard a bit of It’s Hard Work! in this one, too.

Track 16: The Sixth Stop
This track is mostly piano and strings, and gives such a wistful, haunting feel. It plays when Chihiro is riding the train to Swamp Bottom to apologize for Haku. It’s a mesmerizing song, very beautiful. Quite different from the sudden, pulse-pounding songs that have frequented the soundtrack.

Track 17: Yubaba's Panic
Whoa, we’re excited again! Though very short, this song manages to be pretty awesome. There’s a bit of Yubaba(the song) in this one, including some of that weird high-low key piano action, those eerie vocals, and the creepy music box theme.

Track 18: The House at Swamp Bottom
Now we’re calm again. This song utilizes harp and flute, and it sounds mellow and somehow cozy. Very beautiful music, even if the track is short when compared to the others.

Track 19: Reprise
This song is so beautiful, I almost have no words on it. It sounds so joyful and full of wonder. I love the use of woodwinds in this track, and the sense of soaring that you get when the music crescendos!

Track 20: The Return
This song starts out with such triumph, it makes we want to get up and dance! I think this part of the song was a reprisal of Procession of the Gods. Then, it quiets into a final reprise of One Summer’s Day, though with a climatic ending, whereas the song at the beginning ends leaving you wondering what happens next. It’s a beautiful song that sums up everything that the ending was supposed to make you feel. Happiness, a strange melancholy, and perhaps most importantly, a sense of wonder.(I'm going to hit myself for being so fruity. XD)

Track 21: Itsumo Nando Demo(Always With Me)
And now for one of the sweetest songs ever composed. This song plays over the credits, and sounds kind of like a lullaby. The only instrument used is a harp, and singing the melody is a lady who sounds like she could be the sweet dance instructor from ‘Shall We Dance?’. It’s a beautiful song, and even if I didn’t quite understand all the lyrics meant, it was deeply touching. The perfect way to end a spectacular film.

The Verdict: A+
Top Three Favorite Tracks: Dragon Boy, The Sixth Stop, and The Stink Spirit. (Though seriously, I would just put the whole soundtrack as my favorite. XD)

Later, amigos!
-Xochitl

A Letter!

I'm kind of on a Jane Austen buzz right now, I've started Emma and I love it! Earlier this year I had to read Pride and Prejudice for school, and I remember being a little annoyed at Mr. Darcy's loooooong explanation letter.

There's also some bonus concept art at the bottom of the comic.
I based Lizzy's dress off of a favorite Barbie outfit I had. XD And Mr. Darcy is... pretty bland looking, really. I had no idea what to draw him like!
Oh gosh, I just realized that my Jane Austen label is misspelled. D:

A Day in Carmel

So, Wednesday is music day, where my sister has violin lessons, and I have orchestra on the rich part of the county. Oops, was that out loud? (Yes, yes it was.)
Anyway, Carmel, where the violin lessons are, is a real cute town. Except for the bizarre art and sculptures. Ahem. Oh with the pictures!

 

Violin lessons are inside the basement of a Methodist Church. I felt so weird typing that sentence. Anyway, when She In the Hello Kitty Hat is at her lesson, me, Dad, and He In the Bobble Hat go walking around town.

 

I call it 'Misery Upon the White Things'.

Saw some... bizarre sculptures. Really no words on this, there are just too many questions to ask.

There's this candy shop called Cottage of Sweets, and as the name suggests, they have a lot of candy. We usually buy some sour belts, but they sell some pretty weird stuff. Like giant Smarties, Humungo Jaw-Breakers...



Behold... The wall of Gummy!

Yeah. Lots and lots of candy. It smells so awesome in there.

 

After that we like to go to a little shop called Tea Rose Collection. Sounds really prestigious, but the lady there is really nice and helpful. It's a pretty shop, and even has a second story.

It was about this time that we noticed it was raining.

 

I like the back porch.



Upstairs...



Looking down from upstairs...



Me wearing a 1920's hat. And making a stupid face.

 

I got a lot of pictures in the tea shop. XD



 It was almost pouring, and we totally had the foresight to bring an umbrella. Not. So yeah, we had to hike back to the car until it was time to pick up She Who Wears the Hello Kitty Hat from violin.

I tried to get all 'artsy' and photograph my hand in front of the raindrop-py window. Not sure if I succeeded or not.







So yeah, Carmel, won't you? :D

In Defense of Cosette

Okay. So, up until about a year ago, I didn't like Cosette. I totally hated her. I thought she was selfish, annoying, and really pointless. I've since come around, and though I don't particularly love her character, I think that if you hate Cosette for the aforementioned reasons, you maybe need a few things explained.

I just wanted to put a picture into the post.

Cosette Stole Eponine's Man!

Here's the thing. Cosette didn't 'steal' Marius from Eponine because she didn't even know there was another girl in love with him! She had no idea about Eponine, and if she did, knowing Cosette, she probably would have felt very sorry about the whole thing.
The other characters suffer so much, while Cosette just sits around and gets married.
Other characters like... Fantine? Fantine suffered because she loved Cosette so much. She would have done anything to give Cosette a good life. Jean Valjean knew that, so when he rescued Cosette from the Thenardiers, he gave her the life her mother wanted for her. Fantine would have wanted it that way.
Cosette was spoiled.
When Marius first sees Cosette in the film, she's giving money to a poor person. When he sees her in the musical(depending on the production, I suppose), she and her father are going out of their way to help people. And in the book, Valjean and Cosette go to Gorbeau Manor to help a family of poor people(Who just so happen to be the Thenardiers). Cosette is very kind and compassionate, and does her best to help a girl who was injured. Cosette was pampered, and had everything she wanted. But she wasn't spoiled, and she felt compassion for those less fortunate than her, maybe because of what she went through as a child.
Cosette isn't Relatable.
Yeah, maybe not in the unrequited love department, no, she's not. But anyone with protective parents and a rather sheltered life might identify with Cosette. I know my sister feels like she can relate to Cosette. Sure, those aren't things everyone can relate to, but then again, not everyone has suffered unrequited love, or a breakup. One of the reasons Les Miserables is cool is because there are dozens of characters, and there's always at least one that you feel you can relate to.
Cosette is boring, and unimportant.
Yeah, I can't offer much of a persuasive argument for this, because one's perception of what's boring varies. If you mean that she's boring because she doesn't do anything but get married, than, yeah. Maybe you would rather skim until you reach the barricade. But her purpose as a character is interesting to me. She brought out a rather soft side to Valjean. She's what keeps him going, because to Valjean, Cosette is like the whole world. It took real strength for him to let her marry Marius. And what's more, he didn't just have to give them his blessing and send them on their merry way- he also had to actively go out and save Marius' life! Almost losing his own in the process, I might say. At one point, Valjean and Marius are almost out of the sewers, but can't get out because the gate is locked. There, alone with a dying man, Valjean doesn't think about his death. He doesn't even think about Marius' death. He thinks about Cosette. It doesn't have much to do with her actual personality, but Cosette is the center of Valjean's world. That makes her a very important character. I mean, there's a reason she's the logo for the musical.

Ahem. If you made it through these huge chunks of paragraph, I congratulate you!
I have to say, Cosette is better portrayed in some adaptations than others. In the musical, depending on how the actress plays the part, she can come across as vapid and airhead-y. Or she can be on the other side of the spectrum, and seem whiny and ungrateful to Valjean. I thought that she was very well portrayed in the 2012 film, a good balance between inquisitive about her father's past and respecting him.
So! I suppose it's time for me to stop ranting now. :)
I hope I didn't come across as arrogant or rude while arguing my points.
G'day!
-Xochitl

The Cast of Emma

... another cast. This time (as the title would indicate), I'm covering Jane Austin's Emma! Of Jane Austin books, I've only read Pride and Prejudice, but I really liked watching the movie/tv series of Emma. So as soon as I'm on Christmas vacation, I can read it. Huzzah! Unless I don't finish Henri Fabre, or Peter O'Keefe on time. [sighs] I suppose I've got my work cut out.
Anyways, I've been ranting too long. On with the cheesy drawings! :D

Emma: I'm happy with how she came out. She's wearing a party dress, and holding that little globe from the beginning of the Movie Adaptation.
Mr. Woodhouse: I sure hope I captured that dull throbbing hypochondria.
Mr. Knightly: Grr... I can't draw sideburns to save my life. But I feel Mr. Knightly here looks okay. Tried to make him look a little surly, but far from mean, of course.
Harriet: With her basket full of food and such for the people who live near Emma's house. Looking quite lovestruck by Mr. Elton. Which brings us to our next quarry...
Mr. Elton: I really hope I got the Minister outfit right. Well, in case you can't tell what he's supposed to be (and if you can even read my blurry handwriting), he's got a little book that says 'Minister'. Yeah.. creative name for the book. XD
Jane Fairfax: She looks rather nervous. I would be too, if I was standing next to Mr. Elton, I suppose.
Frank Churchill: Got mixed feelings on Mr. Churchill here. He's a fun character, but he also let Emma believe he was in love with her while actually being engaged to Jane. Rrgh, that's a little frustrating, right there. The actual chibi on the other hand, I like. He's based off the movie adaptation, the version most recently saw. In that one, he's got weird rocker hair. O.o
Miss Bates: Just bursting with the latest news from Jane Fairfax! Oh my!

Well, I hope you like them!
-Xochitl