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CollectionsMovie(s): Encanto (2021)
First Appearance: Encanto (2021)
Voiced by: Stephanie Beatriz
It can be tough if you feel like an outsider in any family, but spare a thought for Mirabel, who is the one person seemingly not gifted with magical powers like her sisters, cousins and others. As it turns out, she does have a huge part to play in saving the family's magic, all the while being charming, loveable and brave. She's also the one to finally reconnect with banished uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo), who has his own issues. Beatriz gives a spirited vocal performance, and Mirabel never comes across as whiny.
Stroke of genius
Mirabel's songs are provided by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and she has more than one show-stopper in a movie crammed with great tunes.
Fun fact
Part of Beatriz' audition included her singing Maui's song' You're Welcome' from Moana.
36. Mirabel
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 12:28
(A review of Mirabel Madrigal)
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37. Maui
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 08:09
(A review of Maui)Movie(s): Moana (2016), Gone Fishing (2017) (Short)
First Appearance: Moana (2016)
Voiced by: Dwayne Johnson
In what is one of the most perfect combinations of character and voice, the outsized demi-god could only have been voiced by Dwayne Johnson. Maui's a cheery, cheeky, crafty sort, plotting his escape from exile while also dealing with some confidence issues. A great counterpoint to central figure Moana's (Auli'i Cravalho) noble spirit, he's the Puck to her pluck. And how many characters, animated or otherwise, have moving, sarcastic tattoos? You're welcome!
Stroke of genius
Maui's change of heart and heroic attempt to save Moana at the film's climax is an earned example of the hero's journey.
Fun fact
The movie was originally developed as focused on Maui, with Moana as a side character, but an inspirational research trip to the South Pacific changed all that.
First Appearance: Moana (2016)
Voiced by: Dwayne Johnson
In what is one of the most perfect combinations of character and voice, the outsized demi-god could only have been voiced by Dwayne Johnson. Maui's a cheery, cheeky, crafty sort, plotting his escape from exile while also dealing with some confidence issues. A great counterpoint to central figure Moana's (Auli'i Cravalho) noble spirit, he's the Puck to her pluck. And how many characters, animated or otherwise, have moving, sarcastic tattoos? You're welcome!
Stroke of genius
Maui's change of heart and heroic attempt to save Moana at the film's climax is an earned example of the hero's journey.
Fun fact
The movie was originally developed as focused on Maui, with Moana as a side character, but an inspirational research trip to the South Pacific changed all that.
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38. Satan
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 08:03
(A review of Satan (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut))Movie(s): South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
First Appearance: The Bible, sort of.
Voiced by: Trey Parker
Call him what you like - Lucifer, Shaitan, the Devil - but he's always scary and badass and in control. Unless, of course, you're Matt Stone and Trey Parker, in which case Satan may be physically well developed but he's rather more shy and retiring than we're used to - to the extent that his gay lover, Saddam Hussein, physically and emotionally abuses the poor fella. His attempt to regain his own sense of dignity and independence is the closest thing this foul-mouthed classic has to a story arc, and if you end up cheering for the underworld dog, well, all to the good.
Stroke of genius
Turns out that Satan has a sense of gratitude, offering Kenny one wish in return for his help in getting rid of Saddam Hussein. Well isn't that nice?
Fun fact
Yes, that's a picture of Scream actor Skeet Ulrich hanging above Satan's bed.
First Appearance: The Bible, sort of.
Voiced by: Trey Parker
Call him what you like - Lucifer, Shaitan, the Devil - but he's always scary and badass and in control. Unless, of course, you're Matt Stone and Trey Parker, in which case Satan may be physically well developed but he's rather more shy and retiring than we're used to - to the extent that his gay lover, Saddam Hussein, physically and emotionally abuses the poor fella. His attempt to regain his own sense of dignity and independence is the closest thing this foul-mouthed classic has to a story arc, and if you end up cheering for the underworld dog, well, all to the good.
Stroke of genius
Turns out that Satan has a sense of gratitude, offering Kenny one wish in return for his help in getting rid of Saddam Hussein. Well isn't that nice?
Fun fact
Yes, that's a picture of Scream actor Skeet Ulrich hanging above Satan's bed.
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Satan (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut) review
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 08:03
(A review of Satan (South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut))Movie(s): South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999)
First Appearance: The Bible, sort of.
Voiced by: Trey Parker
Call him what you like - Lucifer, Shaitan, the Devil - but he's always scary and badass and in control. Unless, of course, you're Matt Stone and Trey Parker, in which case Satan may be physically well developed but he's rather more shy and retiring than we're used to - to the extent that his gay lover, Saddam Hussein, physically and emotionally abuses the poor fella. His attempt to regain his own sense of dignity and independence is the closest thing this foul-mouthed classic has to a story arc, and if you end up cheering for the underworld dog, well, all to the good.
Stroke of genius
Turns out that Satan has a sense of gratitude, offering Kenny one wish in return for his help in getting rid of Saddam Hussein. Well isn't that nice?
Fun fact
Yes, that's a picture of Scream actor Skeet Ulrich hanging above Satan's bed.
First Appearance: The Bible, sort of.
Voiced by: Trey Parker
Call him what you like - Lucifer, Shaitan, the Devil - but he's always scary and badass and in control. Unless, of course, you're Matt Stone and Trey Parker, in which case Satan may be physically well developed but he's rather more shy and retiring than we're used to - to the extent that his gay lover, Saddam Hussein, physically and emotionally abuses the poor fella. His attempt to regain his own sense of dignity and independence is the closest thing this foul-mouthed classic has to a story arc, and if you end up cheering for the underworld dog, well, all to the good.
Stroke of genius
Turns out that Satan has a sense of gratitude, offering Kenny one wish in return for his help in getting rid of Saddam Hussein. Well isn't that nice?
Fun fact
Yes, that's a picture of Scream actor Skeet Ulrich hanging above Satan's bed.
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39. Lumiere
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 06:16
(A review of Lumière)Movie(s): Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
First Appearance: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
First Appearance: Beauty and the Beast (1991)
Voice by: Jerry Orbach
Perhaps the strangest thing about returning to this Oscar-nominated classic after all these years is learning that Jerry Orbach provided the voice of Lumiere, the irrepressibly Gallic, lover man, er, candlestick who plays such a big part in the story. Yes, him from Law & Order / Dirty Dancing (delete according to viewing preferences). The flamboyant Lumiere, forever sneaking off into corners for some private time with a duster, is the most amusing of the new characters introduced for the film, and it turns out that sensible Detective Briscoe has a romantic side after all.
Stroke of genius
The song Be Our Guest, which sees Lumiere introduce perhaps the greatest dining experience in animation history. One question though: would you really be comfortable putting living cutlery in your mouth?
Fun fact
It was legendary lyricist Howard Ashman (Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid) who came up with the idea of everyone in the castle turning into objects. Sadly, he died during production.
Perhaps the strangest thing about returning to this Oscar-nominated classic after all these years is learning that Jerry Orbach provided the voice of Lumiere, the irrepressibly Gallic, lover man, er, candlestick who plays such a big part in the story. Yes, him from Law & Order / Dirty Dancing (delete according to viewing preferences). The flamboyant Lumiere, forever sneaking off into corners for some private time with a duster, is the most amusing of the new characters introduced for the film, and it turns out that sensible Detective Briscoe has a romantic side after all.
Stroke of genius
The song Be Our Guest, which sees Lumiere introduce perhaps the greatest dining experience in animation history. One question though: would you really be comfortable putting living cutlery in your mouth?
Fun fact
It was legendary lyricist Howard Ashman (Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid) who came up with the idea of everyone in the castle turning into objects. Sadly, he died during production.
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40. Elsa
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 06:08
(A review of Queen Elsa )Movie(s): Frozen (2013), Frozen II (2019)
First Appearance: Frozen (2013)
Voiced by: Idina Menzel
With, according to John Travolta at least, the wickedly talented Adele Dazeem (actually Wicked stage veteran Idina Menzel) providing both her speaking voice and her impressive singing pipes, Elsa was originally going to be a more traditional take on the Snow Queen. Instead, she's part of a sister sibling duo with Kristen Bell's Anna that made for a hugely successful animated movie. Elsa's troubled, isolated initial existence gives way to a bold, thoughtful ruler and someone who never needs a prince to save them.
Stroke of genius
Song 'Let It Go' (by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who won an Oscar for it) not only changes Elsa's path but changed her entirely storyline. Oh, and it became a huge earworm.
Fun fact
With 420,000 strands of computer generated hair, Elsa has 15 times more strands than Rapunzel. Take that, tower-dweller!
First Appearance: Frozen (2013)
Voiced by: Idina Menzel
With, according to John Travolta at least, the wickedly talented Adele Dazeem (actually Wicked stage veteran Idina Menzel) providing both her speaking voice and her impressive singing pipes, Elsa was originally going to be a more traditional take on the Snow Queen. Instead, she's part of a sister sibling duo with Kristen Bell's Anna that made for a hugely successful animated movie. Elsa's troubled, isolated initial existence gives way to a bold, thoughtful ruler and someone who never needs a prince to save them.
Stroke of genius
Song 'Let It Go' (by Bobby Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, who won an Oscar for it) not only changes Elsa's path but changed her entirely storyline. Oh, and it became a huge earworm.
Fun fact
With 420,000 strands of computer generated hair, Elsa has 15 times more strands than Rapunzel. Take that, tower-dweller!
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41. Remy
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 05:58
(A review of Remy)Movie(s): Ratatouille (2007)
First Appearance: Ratatouille (2007)
Voiced by: Patton Oswalt
Brad Bird's Pixar efforts are rather more complex of moral than your average cartoon, willing to admit that not everyone is going to end up a princess or a superhero and that some people are just more talented than others. Remy, here, is a culinary genius, but it's not always easy for him to get ahead. After all, rats and kitchens do not match brilliantly from a hygiene point of view. Still, his obsession with his chosen profession and determination to get ahead make him compelling - even though he's not always entirely sympathetic. Seriously: would you let a rodent puppeteer sit on your head and force you to cook?
Stroke of genius
Remy's magical, camera-spinning cooking scenes, making the creation of a soup and a ratatouille into a cross between dancing and singing.
Fun fact
Patton Oswalt landed the job of voicing Remy after Bird saw a video of his stand-up routine where he waxed lyrical about food.
First Appearance: Ratatouille (2007)
Voiced by: Patton Oswalt
Brad Bird's Pixar efforts are rather more complex of moral than your average cartoon, willing to admit that not everyone is going to end up a princess or a superhero and that some people are just more talented than others. Remy, here, is a culinary genius, but it's not always easy for him to get ahead. After all, rats and kitchens do not match brilliantly from a hygiene point of view. Still, his obsession with his chosen profession and determination to get ahead make him compelling - even though he's not always entirely sympathetic. Seriously: would you let a rodent puppeteer sit on your head and force you to cook?
Stroke of genius
Remy's magical, camera-spinning cooking scenes, making the creation of a soup and a ratatouille into a cross between dancing and singing.
Fun fact
Patton Oswalt landed the job of voicing Remy after Bird saw a video of his stand-up routine where he waxed lyrical about food.
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42. Katie Mitchell
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 05:49
(A review of Katie Mitchell)Movie(s): The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
First Appearance: The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
Voiced by: Abbi Jacobson
Co-writer/director Mike Rianda drew inspiration from his own family to create the humanity-saving goofballs at the heart of this excellent animated adventure. For Katie Mitchell, he used a few sources, including his own teenage passion for creation and the parent-child connection barrier he sometimes faced with his father. Mostly, though Kate came from various sources, and is remarkable for her live-wire filmmaking and huge belief in doing the right thing. She also represents the first LGBTQ+ character in an all-ages animation, yet that never defines her or becomes a source of conflict, as driven by the various LGBTQ+ artists who worked on the movie.
Stroke of genius
Katie's inspired films, including Dog Cop, are a comedic highpoint.
Fun fact
Katie's socks bear the carpet design from the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. The Columbia Pictures logo figure at the start shows off the same design on one of its socks.
First Appearance: The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
Voiced by: Abbi Jacobson
Co-writer/director Mike Rianda drew inspiration from his own family to create the humanity-saving goofballs at the heart of this excellent animated adventure. For Katie Mitchell, he used a few sources, including his own teenage passion for creation and the parent-child connection barrier he sometimes faced with his father. Mostly, though Kate came from various sources, and is remarkable for her live-wire filmmaking and huge belief in doing the right thing. She also represents the first LGBTQ+ character in an all-ages animation, yet that never defines her or becomes a source of conflict, as driven by the various LGBTQ+ artists who worked on the movie.
Stroke of genius
Katie's inspired films, including Dog Cop, are a comedic highpoint.
Fun fact
Katie's socks bear the carpet design from the Overlook Hotel in The Shining. The Columbia Pictures logo figure at the start shows off the same design on one of its socks.
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44. Thumper
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 5 August 2022 05:40
(A review of Thumper)Movie(s): Bambi (1942), Bambi 2 (2006)
First Appearance: Bambi (1942)
Voiced by: Peter Behn, Tim Davis, Sam Edwards, Brandon Baerg
The thing about Thumper is that he's so cute he almost helps you to forget that Bambi's mum has, um, [sob] died. The scene where the rabbit and the young faun venture out on the ice during their first winter, slipping and sliding around, remains one of the happiest things you'll ever see, guaranteed to raise a smile even if you've just eaten venison before watching the movie and are feeling horrendously guilty. A sage advisor to Bambi himself, more or less, and a more streetwise (forest-wise?) character, he's a good friend and fellow adolescent in the big, bad woods.
Stroke of genius
Why, it's his trademark habit of drumming his feet against the ground, much imitated but never bettered.
Fun fact
Thumper doesn't appear in the original novel, which is darker and more concerned with the natural world than the cuddly baby animals. The Nazis, book lovers that they were, banned the book as an allegory for the treatment of the Jews in Europe.
First Appearance: Bambi (1942)
Voiced by: Peter Behn, Tim Davis, Sam Edwards, Brandon Baerg
The thing about Thumper is that he's so cute he almost helps you to forget that Bambi's mum has, um, [sob] died. The scene where the rabbit and the young faun venture out on the ice during their first winter, slipping and sliding around, remains one of the happiest things you'll ever see, guaranteed to raise a smile even if you've just eaten venison before watching the movie and are feeling horrendously guilty. A sage advisor to Bambi himself, more or less, and a more streetwise (forest-wise?) character, he's a good friend and fellow adolescent in the big, bad woods.
Stroke of genius
Why, it's his trademark habit of drumming his feet against the ground, much imitated but never bettered.
Fun fact
Thumper doesn't appear in the original novel, which is darker and more concerned with the natural world than the cuddly baby animals. The Nazis, book lovers that they were, banned the book as an allegory for the treatment of the Jews in Europe.
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47. Daffy Duck
Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 4 August 2022 04:31
(A review of Daffy Duck)Movie(s): Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Space Jam (1999), Looney Tunes (2003)
First Apperance: Porky's Duck Hunt (1937)
Voiced by: Mel Blanc, Jeff Bergman, Greg Burson, Joe Alasky, Dee Bradley Baker
Tricky one, this. Based largely on his movie career, you can't include Daffy Duck - arguably the greatest of all the Looney Tunes, with his scheming and his skiving and his suffering suckatash speech impediment - on this list. But you can't not include Daffy Duck on this list, and you shouldn't hold it against the character that Warner Bros. hasn't found a vehicle worthy of its greatest assets, from Daffy to Bugs to Elmer to Wile E. to Sylvester to Marvin and so on and so on and so on. The best we can do is to mention that he's pretty funny in Joe Dante's Looney Tunes: Back In Action, and that he's on this list because he's Daffy Duck. And if anyone disagrees, we have an Acme Reader Pulveriser out back, just waiting to be fired up. Capisce?
Stroke of genius
Just to show how Warners have dropped the ball, Daffy's greatest full-length feature film moment comes in a Disney film. Notably the magnificent dualling pianos scene between him and Donald Duck in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which ends with the two ducks engaging in a spot of M.A.D.
Have Your Say
Should Daffy Duck be higher or lower on our list? Vote now!
Fun fact
Mel Blanc, the classic voice of Daffy, recorded a novelty single in the 50s called Daffy Duck's Rhapsody. We have to hear this song. Bet Kim Newman has it.
First Apperance: Porky's Duck Hunt (1937)
Voiced by: Mel Blanc, Jeff Bergman, Greg Burson, Joe Alasky, Dee Bradley Baker
Tricky one, this. Based largely on his movie career, you can't include Daffy Duck - arguably the greatest of all the Looney Tunes, with his scheming and his skiving and his suffering suckatash speech impediment - on this list. But you can't not include Daffy Duck on this list, and you shouldn't hold it against the character that Warner Bros. hasn't found a vehicle worthy of its greatest assets, from Daffy to Bugs to Elmer to Wile E. to Sylvester to Marvin and so on and so on and so on. The best we can do is to mention that he's pretty funny in Joe Dante's Looney Tunes: Back In Action, and that he's on this list because he's Daffy Duck. And if anyone disagrees, we have an Acme Reader Pulveriser out back, just waiting to be fired up. Capisce?
Stroke of genius
Just to show how Warners have dropped the ball, Daffy's greatest full-length feature film moment comes in a Disney film. Notably the magnificent dualling pianos scene between him and Donald Duck in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, which ends with the two ducks engaging in a spot of M.A.D.
Have Your Say
Should Daffy Duck be higher or lower on our list? Vote now!
Fun fact
Mel Blanc, the classic voice of Daffy, recorded a novelty single in the 50s called Daffy Duck's Rhapsody. We have to hear this song. Bet Kim Newman has it.
0 comments, Reply to this entry