Did BARBENHEIMER inspire my Animation Character Comparison Clash Posts?+My thoughts on the Lilo & Stitch Live ActionRemake

I thought about it a little more concisely and as it turns out, there may be more than what meets the eye in terms of competition.

My very first Comparison Clash post was originally a MAVERICK QUICKIE posted on November 21 2023 where I noticed a similarity between LUM INVADER vs STAR BUTTERFLY as was posted by someone on Pinterest.

I eventually removed the MAVERICK QUICKIE label off that post and made it it's own post with the Similarities Label.

So was it inspired by the BARBENHEIMER phenomenon back in 2023?

Sort of.....

I also first noticed a repeating phenomenon after seeing on Social Media many posts about the recent LILO & STITCH live-action remake going up against the latest entry in the MISSION IMPOSSIBLE franchise and yeah, 

Another BARBENHEIMER has officially been the focus of 2025 Cinema.

But I highly doubt a Girl's Doll fighting against a Nuclear Scientist going against head-to-head in the box-office in Summer 2023 had anything to do with my Clash posts but I'll let you be the judge of all this in the Comments section.

As for the LILO & STITCH Live-Action remake, 

Yes, I watched the film at my local CINEPLEX METROPOLIS Cinema in Burnaby, BC.

Unlike what this photo shown, the most recent visit to this Cinema 

had the SilverCity logo,  Aliens and King Kong removed from display.

How do I rate the remake?

It's Ok. 

Certainly a much better remake than that awful folly SNOW WHITE that was released earlier in March 2025.

But even I, alongside animator ANDREAS DEJA, still think the 2002 animated Original is better.

Decided to use this piece of Fanart instead of borrowing photos from Andreas Deja.

As a matter of fact, the day before I went to watch the remake at Cineplex Metropolis, 

I watched the original 2002 animated Lilo & Stitch on my Hisense 4K TV via Blu-Ray... on my PS5.

Specifically the 2013 Blu-Ray because I prefer the original 2002 American Cut instead of the UK cut which is unfortunately the version used on both Disney+ & newer Blu-Rays.

Yes, I prefer a version of LILO hiding in the Dryer 

instead of a commode with a Dominos Pizza box

As for my mentioning of PINTEREST,

I no longer have access to my Pinterest account as I was suspended for some bizarre reason.

DOUG ODDITIES: Did it all begin with Shoes?

Shoes Shoes Shoes!!!

What is it about shoes that make us unique?

It's been said that DOUG as a franchise started with the manuscript for the book 

DOUG'S GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES.

A 1984 book Written by JOE AARON and Illustrated by JIM JINKINS.

The book however was rejected by all the major publishing houses in New York.

SIMON AND SCHUSTER was at one point very close to closing a deal to have the book published but unfortunately, the publishing firm backed out at the last minute due to a change in management, greatly distressing Jim and Joe because if the ANIMATION was at it's lowest point in America in the mid-80s, how is it that Book Publishing could have sunk to such a new low?

The manuscript stuck with Jim for many years until 1989 when he gained notice from VANESSA COFFEY, an executive at Nickelodeon, who was searching across America for disgruntled artists who were unable to sell their new creative ideas to other studios, so it was her job to offer these said artists a chance to develop original show ideas for this BRAND SPANKING NEW! empire of Cartoons for Nickelodeon called NICKTOONS.

Jim already had some animation experience in the past working on SESAME STREET as well as several Florida Grapefruit Commercials and a few Bumpers for the USA NETWORK but determined to make sense of bringing DOUG into this world of CREATOR-DRIVEN Animation, he showed the manuscript for DOUG'S GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES to Vanessa.

Vanessa promptly bolted shortly after, which Jim thought was another sign that he'd once again been rejected for a pitch.

NOT!!!!!

Vanessa bolted because she recognized potential in JIM and told the other executives at THE SLIME FACTORY and proceeded to give him the greenlight to make a TV Series based on DOUG.

But first, he needed to create an animated Pilot before it could be ready for primetime. 

Jim wanted to adapt his unpublished Book into a TV Pilot but....

Learning from his experience with rejected material, Jim decided that an original story was the only way for his pilot pitch to work.

So he got to work on writing a new treatment for his pilot.

Taking inspiration from a traumatic Childhood memory where because of his family's religious upbringing, he was not allowed to dance, Jim created an original story based on said Childhood. 

The name of the Pilot?

The pilot revolved around DOUG thinking he cannot dance because he'd embarrass himself in front of his girlfriend Patti Mayonnaise.

But it's then later revealed that DOUG can actually dance.

And the only thing that's stopping him is his crippling anxieties.

DAMMIT ROGER!!!

The pilot was surprisingly successful which gave Jim Jinkins the greenlight for an entire series of 52 episodes.....

actually it was susposed to be 65 Episodes due to Animation Syndication rules but a string of budget issues with Viacom in the later years would create a mess of things that Jim wanted no part of.

As for the book, it wasn't all for waste.

It's just that it was used in two pieces of media.

The first attempt to salvage the unpublished Manuscript was in the 1991 Nickelodeon episode DOUG's COOL SHOES.

The plot is similar where DOUG needs new shoes because he felt his old ones were going to make him the laughingstock in all of Bluffington, Virgina.

It's only the intervention of famous basketball star SKY DAVIS

that convinced DOUG to keep his old shoes for the better part of his childhood.


When Disney bought DOUG & Jumbo Pictures in 1996, for better or worse, 

the executives firmly believed that Jim can't let his original manuscripts go to waste so they offered to publish it, with a few tweaks to the artwork to make it more.....CONVENTIONAL, and to tie-in with the respective series that was concurrently airing on Disney's ONE SATURDAY MORNING block.

In 1997, 

DOUG'S GOT A NEW PAIR OF SHOES was finally published by both DISNEY PRESS & SCHOLASTIC after 13 years of going unpublished......

though it was retitled as DOUG'S BIG SHOE DISASTER.

So you tell me?

Was DOUG really started because of Shoes?

Or was it really Jim's childhood in Richmond, Virgina that started it all?

For me, it all started at Jim's Richmond, Virginia hometown growing up.

But I'll let you readers be the judge of all that.

Clash of Witch’s Black Cats-Jiji vs. Salem Sabergagen

I just recently looked into this astonishing head canon.

How come nobody has looked into this?

It seems that a comparison between JiJi from Kiki’s delivery service 

&

Salem Saberhagen from Sabrina the teenage witch 

Was inevitable since the two are snarky black cats.

First up is JiJi, 

At least for the 1998 Disney English Dub, this JIJI is sure one hell of a snarky black cat

While in Japanese, this cat was portrayed by REI SAKUMA(Best known for portraying Shampoo in Ranma 1/2), most people remember JIJI with the deeper voice courtesy of the Late Phil Hartman.

Not only that but this iteration of JIJI is known for his OFF-CAMERA adlibs where basically he can be allowed to add additional lines of dialogue as long as his mouth isn't shown on camera.

Salem, on the other hand, is a different kind of snarky cat.

In his case, he's originally human who was forced to be a CAT due to his unsavory actions revolving around world domination.

Also, he's portrayed by Nick Bakay.

So there you have it.

Two Snarky cats who are familiars to their Witch Companions.

Jiji with Kiki

and Salem with Sabrina.

Doug drawings Exercises 01-Roger mocking Doug Part 01 PRELUDE

After hearing in Late March 2025 about the controversies about OpenAI and their recent addition of making a somewhat accurate take on Ghibli art while also pissing off Hayao Miyazaki greatly, 

My ANTI-AI tools Sentiment is now at an All Time High-Octane High.

But instead of ranting against a company refusing to take responsibility for disrespecting Miyazaki's viewpoints, 

Let's vent using Jim Jinkins' logic....

BY DRAWING....... by hand that is.

How's about several rounds of Drawing Exercises using DOUG!!!

This drawing above is based off a scene from the 1991 episode of Nickelodeon's DOUG called DOUG CAN'T DIG IT.

(Though the drawing erroneously assumed it was from DOUG DIDN'T DO IT.)

The scene depicts Roger Klotz complimenting DOUG for appearing on a stage play directed by his sister Judy Funnie....because it got him out of a Math Test.

One of the defining moments of ROGER being friendly towards DOUG since the beginning of the NICKELODEON ERA.

For those who are wondering what the scene looks like originally, 

here's a VLC Screenshot from my AMAZON DVD.......

The whole point of the exercise was to redraw the scene but use the cleaner designs of the characters from Season 3 of the Nick Version or Season 6 of the Disney Version.....

But the exercise is that despite using cleaner designs of said Seasons, We still need to retain the original outfits from the Nick Version such as the lines on Doug's Sweater-Vest Collar and Roger's original bacon haircut.

No, I did not place a piece of paper in front of my ASUS Monitor or my WACOM ONE Tablet display.

The idea was for me to draw by observing the screenshot from my Monitor while drawing on my portable easel.

As you can see from the drawing way at the top, I accidentally made Doug's Head a little smaller than what the screenshot implies.

Though I did nail Roger's Season 3 Nick Series face pretty well.

Though this scene had Roger with his Bacon Hair a bit more stiff.

I based the more Wavy Pattern from this screenshot below which is from the 1993 episode

DOUG THROWS A PARTY.

I'm in the middle of something important which is working on a Commercial for a client who hired me. 

I won't spoil the surprise but let's just say, it will somewhat eat my schedule so I'm going to stop here and save the Inking process on Photoshop for next post.

So until part 02, let me leave this post with a Scene of DOUG dressed as the late BOB ROSS

"And yes, even the late BOB ROSS says that REAL HUMAN ARTISTS are superior."

Maverick Quickie-MAX gets rebranded

Ugh.... BACK TO MAVERICK QUICKIES I GUESS......

Also, I'm very busy with an upcoming project so I'll let this SCREENSHOT of a MEME I found on my Facebook Feed speak for itself:

What is this rebranding?

What the "F" is that ass ZASLAV thinking from within his cerebellum?

And did the people who run the HBO MAX service think it's wise to pick a fight with "X"(Formerly known as Twitter) over the name change?

While I commend that MAX is going back to their old HBO MAX name, 

X will never go back to being Twitter because of the JERK who bought the brand back in Late 2022.

Honestly, I personally don't care about X.com.

I'm on BlueSky. 

And many people, Including your favorite YOUTUBER, have migrated over to BlueSky following the 2024 U.S Elections.

And I think it should be wise for EVERY COORPORATION to migrate their social media presence to BlueSky.

And no, even after 5 years since launch, I still can't get HBO MAX here in Vancouver, Canada.

No, the Blow-Hard with the hairspray has nothing to do with it.

Rather, it's BELLMEDIA and their CRAVE Service that's preventing HBO MAX from releasing on Canadian Soil.

But since 2024, I've become less antagonistic towards BELLMEDIA due to a sudden assholery that's befallen ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS and ROGERS actually got into a lot of trouble with the Government.

Anyway, here's hoping rebranding goes well as I'm seeing more memes of people mocking the BACK-AND-FORTH change of names.

Writing from Reality 02-Childhood/Adulthood memories make good story ideas: Part 01

You ever read about how a series is made and how or where story ideas come up?

Well, there's this phenomenon where we spontaneously remember something from Childhood or we experience something during our adulthood or whatever and we want to take advantage of that memory by using it as a story idea for a screenplay.

TV TROPES calls this WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.

Real-Life can create all sort of story ideas.

And I'm no exception but before I get to that, Let me share some examples of Existing Cartoons who's behind the scenes stories have given birth to some wild and funny scenes:

EVEN THE FLIES CAN'T STAND RANCID BREATH:

In the 1992 Ren & Stimpy Episode REN'S TOOTHACHE, there's a scene where several flies are eating away at Stimpy's Litter Box.

But then the stank comes in.

"CRIPES!!!"

"WHAT IS THAT SMELL!!!"

"P.U!!!!!"

"I don't know man, but it's ruining my meal."

"HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY!!!!"

"WE'RE TRYING TO EAT HERE!!!!"

"AND YOU STAND HERE AIRING OUT YOUR STINKING OLD GUM HOLES!!!"

"WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO!!!???"

"MAKE US PUKE!!!???"

So what inspired that scene?

Well it was a breakfast at ROSCOE'S HOUSE OF CHICKEN & WAFFLES in Los Angeles circa 1992.

Hopefully not during the riots....

John Kricfalusi, Vincent Waller, and the late Chris Riccardi,

They were acting out scenes for the episode MAN'S BEST FRIEND. 

After acting out some DOG DEFECATING ON NEWSPAPER AND PUKING jokes, it set off a little old guy who was sitting behind Chris. Disgusted by said jokes, the little guy tossed his knife and fork on the table and angrily yelled at Riccardi:

"HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY!!! 

I'M TRYING TO EAT HERE!!!!!

AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUKE & SHIT & SNOT!?

TRY TO HAVE SOME CONSIDERATION FOR OTHER PEOPLE!!!!!"

Riccardi turned around meekly, despite being a big strapping lug of a guy, and said to the little guy in a somewhat Squeaky Voice:

"Sorry Mister. We're making a cartoon"

Unperturbed before a raging confusion, the little guy responded:

"I don't care what you're doing. I'm trying to eat...... HEY WAIT A MINUTE?!

WHAT KIND OF CARTOON HAS SHIT AND PUKE AND ASSHOLES 

AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE IS IN IT!!!????"

Considering how controversial MAN'S BEST FRIEND would be and would ultimately get rejected by Nickelodeon for beating up George Liquor with an OAR

(Nickelodeon doesn't even like George Liquor to begin with), 

John was expected to turn in a cartoon that teaches morals which would be the importance of Brushing your teeth.

Ironically using STIMPY as the guy who teaches the importance of Good Dental Hygiene.

Reluctantly obliging with Nick's demands for a morality episode but also wanting something funny and gross to sneak into, JOHN K. decided to use the incident of the little guy at ROSCOE'S yelling at Riccardi and created a similar scene with the FLIES yelling at REN for having such bad dental hygiene.

I don't know which is funnier. 

The flies yelling at REN for having rancid breath?

Or the little guy yelling at Chris Riccardi for acting out gross scenes during breakfast.

A CHILDHOOD POOL PARTY GONE AWRY:

Remember the classic Ed, Edd n Eddy scene where the EDs each put on a speedo?

"That Zaslav can't shut us up so let's strut to show him we mean business!!!"

Put a sock in it you three!!!!

Wait, your episode aired before WBD!!!

Anyway, we all know how embarrassing it was for the EDs when their speedos snap

Therefore leaving the EDs all nude and exposed which resulted in them hiding in a kiddie pool to hide their embarrassment.

"Aw, Buttered Toast!!!!"

POP GOES THE ED was actually inspired by similar incident that happened during DANNY ANTONUCCI'S childhood.

Basically what happened was he was invited over to a pool party at his TORONTO Neighborhood.

Just like with the EDs, Antonucci wore a speedo that was several sizes too small for his crotch to sustain. 

And just like with the EDs, it snapped Mid-Party.

How embarrassing was it for Antonucci who was there all NAKED

Penis and Balls all exposed to the children laughing at his predicament.

Antonucci used that incident in the 1999 Ed, Edd n Eddy episode but if you're in the Vancouver area and you happen to run into him, 

DON'T REMIND HIM OF THAT EMBARASSMENT!!!!!

Otherwise he'll draw LUPO THE BUTCHER decapitating you as a commission!!!

Sorry but it’s better a brutally violent drawing than pissing off the VPD.

DON'T TRIP ON HOT PEPPERS HOMIE!:

The classic 1997 episode

THE MYSTERIOUS VOYAGE OF HOMER

Features Homer Simpson hallucinating after eating too many Guatemalan Insanity peppers.

And he then wakes up at a Golf Course.

This allegedly was based on a similar incident a friend of one of the writers who blacked out and woke up on a Golf Course. 

And after that, had to buy a map at a 7Eleven to find his way home.

Hope this friend didn’t run into the Gopher from CADDYSHACK.

DOUG CAN’T DANCE-BASED ON A TRUE STORY:

I did some reading on the November 1990 Pilot DOUG CAN’T DANCE and as it turns out, the episode was indeed based on Jim Jinkins’ childhood experience of not being able to dance.

But unlike in the pilot where it was DOUG just not having the brass balls to dance, 

Jim’s upbringing was that he grew up in a family household that PROHIBITED DANCING DUE TO RELIGIOUS UPBRINGINGS.

Several years before FOOTLOOSE lampooned that.

Also, I think DOUG may be autistic.

How so?

Because of his anxieties and because his original Voice Actor Billy West also grew up with autism too.

"I'm in the same spectrum as actor Sir Anthony Hopkins so that makes us even."

LUZ NOCEDA'S POKEMON CONNECTION:

I read something fascinating on TV TROPES.

You know how Luz got her hardcover copy of GOOD WITCH AZURA from her late father before his passing?

That was inspired by series creator DANA TERRACE receiving her cartridge of POKÉMON RED from her late father before getting killed in a car accident.

Now let me share one of my craziest Childhood stories that would make very good writing material.

It was 2007... I think...

I was at a field trip with my after-school program LATCH KEY.

We were hiking up in the North Vancouver mountains when all of a sudden, some younger kid I knew named THOMAS NYUGEN wanted to catch a dragonfly and as he was about to catch it, he fell into the water.

We managed to pull him out but he wouldn’t live it down.

I wonder how I can write that into my Cartoon?

I'll share some more examples of my own as well as examples from other cartoons in a future post.