atarahderek

[atarahderek]

Changes I would've made to the live action Lilo & Stitch

Lilo

I would've made her just as weird and quirky as the original, including her love for Elvis. More to the point, I would've made her autistic. A lot of fans believe she is anyway, so why not canonize it and make it a big part of the conflict? Her diagnosis makes Nani even more afraid that Lilo will be taken away, while at the same time making Nani doubt herself and her ability to raise an autistic child.

Nani

I would've kept her as a competitive surfer, with an additional dream of someday going into marine biology. I would've tied these interests in by having her argue with Lilo about the wisdom of feeding peanut butter sandwiches to fish (Nani would argue that tuna is healthier for fish, and when Lilo calls it cannibalism, Nani points out that fish are cannibals). I would've had her working as a part time surfing instructor with a full time job at the luau that she desperately needs to make ends meet--and which Stitch, of course, costs her. Above all, I would've made Nani just as determined to keep Lilo as in the original. Sure, she has more pressure, fears and doubts after Lilo's diagnosis, but this is Nani we're talking about. She already gave up so much to take care of Lilo after their parents died. She's not letting her ohana get broken even more.

The Pelekai parents

I would've made the girls' mother Hawaiian and Filipina and their father Hawaiian and Irish. Lilo would be said to look more like her mom, and Nani would be said to look more like her dad. The end result is that people would be forced to acknowledge that most native Hawaiians are mixed, and they can just deal with it. Also, Mr. Pelekai would be auburn, and apparently that makes one black now.

The social workers

I like the idea of Nani's original VA having a role in the remake. However, I would've still made Cobra Bubbles a social worker. I would've made him new to social services; the bad cop to OG Nani's good cop. Have her rein him in and remind him that he isn't in the CIA anymore.

I also would've made the female social worker a child behavioral specialist trained to diagnose children with behavioral, learning and developmental disabilities. Then I would've used her to diagnose Lilo with autism. That would've been the basis for trying to set up a support system for Nani, with some obligations that she has to fulfill in order to demonstrate that she's able to care for a neurodivergent child.

Granny Hasegawa (I don't remember the remake character's name; only that in the original she had a fruit stand and bad hearing)

I would've made her a newcomer who only recently moved in with David. She can be a bit of a meddler and overbearing sometimes, but she takes an immediate liking to Lilo. She convinces Nani to get a dog for Lilo, and when Lilo returns with Stitch, Granny loves his feistiness.

Kumu Moses

I would've cast the guy who played the ice cream ex-tourist as Moses. According to his obits (RIP, Mr. Bell), he had a very gentle and friendly demeanor with a deep, affectionate voice. He sounds like he would've been much better playing Lilo's hula instructor rather than taking all the funny and poignance out of the ice cream tourist. I also would've made Moses a mentor to his students, actually standing up for Lilo while reminding her that her pain isn't an excuse to lash out at her classmates, including Mertle (who would've been a redhead, so I guess that makes her black now).

Jumba

If Gantu really had to be omitted, and Jumba really had to be the antagonist in his place, I would've given him a redemption arc. I would've made him lonely in life, with his desire to have his own family being his motive for creating Stitch. I'd have him admit this to Lilo in a moment of vulnerability after he accidentally kidnaps her, an act which results in both of them being captured by the Galactic Federation and forced to have some cooling off time so that said vulnerability can happen. After their bonding time, they could work together to break out, meeting Stitch, Nani and a reluctant Pleakley partway through.

Pleakley

His first name is Wendy, for crying out loud. They did not try hard enough to put him in a dress. He could've been a reference to previous Disney properties. The solution to Disney's objections was so obvious and in their face that I blame laziness for the Pleakley we got.

The ending

Lilo and Nani's new allies would rally around her at the end of the movie, with Moses and Granny both volunteering to foster Lilo so that Nani can stay in her life. Jumba and Pleakley would volunteer to rebuild the house. Cobra Bubbles, naturally, softens and agrees with the female social worker that there should be some way to keep the Pelekai sisters together, so long as they have a proper support network. So Nani uses Jumba's portal gun to commute daily to the University of Hawaii. While she's away on school days, David and Granny watch Lilo, and Jumba and Pleakley take classes on fostering neurodivergent children. Jumba bonds with Stitch the way he wanted to all along. Nani has time to return to competitive surfing, and she wins a scholarship in a competition. Lilo and Stitch steal some of Nani's class notes thinking they'll help Lilo better communicate with Pudge the fish. They take the notes to Jumba, and he agrees to help them create an "evil genius" experiment to talk to fish. The film ends with the promise of more familial shenanigans. The credits show home videos of the whole ohana dancing to Elvis music, along with pictures here and there that reference the series (e.g. Mertle adopting a dog that Jumba gives a very suspicious side eye).

[atarahderek]

Hey, could I include your crow/raccoon griffin fighting God sketch in a YouTube video I'm making about that post? I will credit you on screen and in a pinned comment

Sure! That was such a fun thread.

[atarahderek]

"Hey, remember that one time..."

John and his old friend Ben the Baker reminisce about the feeding of the 5,000.

For the fan art contest being run by the folks behind Light of the World. I wanted to make my tribute a crossover with one of my childhood favorites. Who here remembers the Storykeepers?

Bit of a rush job (life got busy), and I'm making the argument that it's still June 1 in Alaska and Hawaii.

[atarahderek]

Does anyone else believe Martin Kratt had a thyroidectomy?

Evidence:

He gained a major dad bod in a relatively brief amount of time, despite still being physically active. To be fair, he was in his late 40s when that happened.

I'm certain I saw a thyroidectomy scar on his neck at one point, starting in show episodes that aired in 2015. To me, there is nothing else it could possibly be.

Chris has done multiple zoology shorts solo, and they often involve traveling. Martin has not done any solo shorts that I'm aware of (please link a video if I'm wrong). Chris' solo shorts also involve a lot of physical activity, including some things that Martin is known to love, such as swimming with rare marine creatures. This could be because Martin no longer has the energy he needs for those kinds of adventures.

Martin no longer seems to have an Adam's apple, which is formed by the cartilage shield that protects your thyroid. It flattens out and basically disappears if the thyroid is removed.

[atarahderek]

Edutainment shows I would love to make/see made

A reboot of the Storykeepers that includes live action segments highlighting Christians–especially children–in restricted nations.

An adventure series about Bible smuggling. Think Travel the Road meets survival shows like Man, Woman, Wild and Dual Survival.

A documentary series similar to Drive Thru History about the first 11 chapters of Genesis, showing how nature and anthropology have both preserved the records God revealed to Moses. Season 1 will be the creation week. Season 2 will be about the flood. Season 3 will explore the Tower of Babel and the division of languages. This series will incorporate animated segments similar to Kratts’ Creatures/Zoboomafoo.

A historical fiction movie or series about Walter Harper, with the ending emphasizing the need to carry on the legacy Hudson Stuck helped him begin in the interior of Alaska. (Someone help me come up with a title for this one. So far, all my ideas attempt to incorporate a reference to both Ireland and the Koyukon, and none of them work.)

A movie about the eruption of Mt. Tarawera. Peter Jackson really has no excuse to not have done this one by now, so let's light a fire under his butt.

[atarahderek]

If I had the focus for a blog dedicated to one subject, I'd call it 4-Score Hi Def. Just to be ironic.

[atarahderek]

An international short documentary done mostly in animation (with live action clips from the actual event), this video tells the story of the 20 Coptic martyrs and their Ghanan brother who was martyred along with them by ISIS in 2015.

[atarahderek]

I recently rediscovered the Kratt brothers thanks to a client. And I learned that Martin is a very good artist. Which has me wondering if he does any of the character design or animation on his and Chris' latest project, Wild Kratts. If so, he's out there living my dream. If he has ADHD like his animated counterpart seems to, I want to know: What is your secret, blue brother??

[atarahderek]

The animation on this is basically Dreamworks meets Cartoon Saloon, and I am here for it!

[atarahderek]

Psalm 2:1-12 NASB

Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? [2] The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, [3] "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!" [4] He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. [5] Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, [6] "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain." [7] "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. [8] 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. [9] 'You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.'" [10] Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. [11] Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling. [12] Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

[atarahderek]

Every other culture: The rhythm of the drumbeat starts from the rhythm of the heartbeat.

Ireland: Okay, but what if we're having a heart attack, but it's fun?

[atarahderek]

My current historical blorbo is Walter Harper. He's got all the adorkable charm of Lafayette without the rage against the English (good thing, too, considering his Iroh figure is English). He'd be the perfect main protagonist of a film, which makes me wonder why the heck none has been written for him yet.

[atarahderek]

Decided to rent a month of Apple TV+ to watch Franklin. I'm enjoying it so far. Love the friendship between Temple and Lafayette. And Michael Knowles is so far doing a great job portraying the great Dr. Benjamin Franklin. But you know, it would be really nice if someone at some point could cast a left handed actor to play a left handed founding father.

[atarahderek]

A Call to Action for MTHFR

My fellow Americans, the recent SCOTUS repeal of the Chevron doctrine has given us power to bring a class action lawsuit against the FDA to remove requirements to enrich non-organic wheat flour produced domestically. As someone with ADHD and a survivor of thyroid cancer, and who has racked up numerous chiropractic bills on "safe" B supplements, I can state categorically that I was indeed injured by enriched wheat products. The addition of these harmful synthetic supplements to wheat flour has forced me to seek more expensive alternatives, which has injured my budget in the current economy. I would like to start the process to bring a class action suit against the FDA, forcing them to remove what are, for at least 40% of Americans (and almost certainly more), toxins in our flour. But this is not something I can do alone. Especially with my ADHD. I need your help. Can we band together to start this process and save future generations from suffering as we have?

[atarahderek]

Making progress on the list!

Get my thyroid hormones to optimal

Continue learning how to master my health

Get a precise MTHFR analysis

Develop my inferior Te

Learn how to make ADHD a tool, not a hurdle

Get my school loans out of default

Start an online animation course

Storyboard a short film

Finish Inktober

My 2024 goals

Get my thyroid hormones to optimal

Continue learning how to master my health

Get a precise MTHFR analysis

Develop my inferior Te

Learn how to make ADHD a tool, not a hurdle

Get my school loans out of default

Start an online animation course

Storyboard a short film

Finish Inktober

By the way, folks, January is thyroid disease awareness month. Check your neck!

[atarahderek]

I need teen historical domain characters!

History buffs, help me out! I need some historical figures who were teens during certain periods of history: The Civil War, the women's suffrage movement, the World Wars, the Civil Rights movement/Vietnam, etc. It would be best if they were directly connected to important figures of that era. This is for a time travel story I'm developing. I've already got Temple Franklin (American Revolution), John Fredson (pre-WWI/gold rush fallout) and a Jewish girl named Clarutza (WWII). Would prefer a gender equal ensemble if possible.