tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62434780243853727392024-03-18T21:54:11.576-07:00Dan Alexander DizmentiaDan Alexander Dizmentia is home to items related to Advertising Characters, Animation, Art, Disney, Oddities, Theme Parks and More!Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-43472964126719510602023-12-03T17:01:00.000-08:002023-12-03T17:01:26.228-08:00SeaWorld Orlando: Pete Penguin Trek<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2eeOvx3cywPqJEFgoexfmEEiNYuFrvthnI0fP3j9uaPVCrhCpxbB16ndc_-BmkBetIU1pQNh_8Yp5hh4YnDr56uqjGT7rmsDeqiJhhXUvi3o-CcqBRpn98QeSyifIs2GXXeEl4bkPT-R2Iwd_tze0-gTuQK6D8-Ykrf7WaQHTtSqOkAAgehMB8vqLRY/s2100/IMG_1794.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2eeOvx3cywPqJEFgoexfmEEiNYuFrvthnI0fP3j9uaPVCrhCpxbB16ndc_-BmkBetIU1pQNh_8Yp5hh4YnDr56uqjGT7rmsDeqiJhhXUvi3o-CcqBRpn98QeSyifIs2GXXeEl4bkPT-R2Iwd_tze0-gTuQK6D8-Ykrf7WaQHTtSqOkAAgehMB8vqLRY/w480-h640/IMG_1794.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> Pete Penguin is one of SeaWorld's longest running mascots. I've made the chilly, dapper bird using sea shells and shark teeth found on the beaches of Venice, Florida.<p></p><div>My first visit to SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida was as a kid in 1987. This was at the height of my obsession with SeaWorld, marine animals, and SeaWorld's animated characters, Shamu and his Crew. We stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton close to SeaWorld for about a week. As such, we got a multi-day pass to SeaWorld and by the end of that week, I had pretty much memorized all the shows.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 1987, the newest attraction was the "Brrrand New Penguin Encounter." This featured a moving sidewalk through a massive building showing off the birds.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2013, the park revamped the Penguin Encounter to become Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin. This included an exhibit where visitors could actually enter the cold world of the penguins. There was also a trackless dark ride included---but I never experienced this ride, as it was closed every time I visited. Eventually, this dark ride shut down for good.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2024, a brand new family snowmobile roller coaster called Penguin Encounter (built by Bolliger and Mabillard) will replace the old dark ride (and beyond the building). I have to say, a penguin themed roller coaster may be my favorite idea they've come up with.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pete Penguin himself has changed quite a bit over the years, starting out as a character wearing a top hat. In the 1980s, Pete was given a makeover with a stocking cap, and also given a female counterpart named Penny. This 1980s version of Pete still survives today, with Pete and Penny being included in SeaWorld's Christmas Winter Wonderland on Ice.</div><div><br /></div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-59488615176522488062023-10-07T17:58:00.001-07:002023-10-07T18:10:48.751-07:00DuckTales The Movie: Collie Baba, You Old Dog!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MULYC3SGx45eQHeHV78KgPqSeQ1IO_lSetaOHmnLDM6NQCdTfOKKuqLjBx1SPliDEK3GYCTjHD8VfzYWzUtPCgI37lr58qGTKXeoSohHmV-WE6W5yeoQdAU5lFHNF5gXWrpjGssS5C6f95NJt2gLletiANTpXEgEa9SP23Z-wmkt1qq271uwTr2aUF8/s2100/IMG_1211.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MULYC3SGx45eQHeHV78KgPqSeQ1IO_lSetaOHmnLDM6NQCdTfOKKuqLjBx1SPliDEK3GYCTjHD8VfzYWzUtPCgI37lr58qGTKXeoSohHmV-WE6W5yeoQdAU5lFHNF5gXWrpjGssS5C6f95NJt2gLletiANTpXEgEa9SP23Z-wmkt1qq271uwTr2aUF8/w480-h640/IMG_1211.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> In <i>DuckTales The Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp </i>(1990), Scrooge McDuck adds to his wealth by finding the hidden treasure of the legendary thief, Collie Baba. Here, Uncle Scrooge and Collie Baba are made from sea shells and shark teeth found on the beaches of Venice, Florida (in addition to paint and just a little bit of metal hardware--for Scrooge's spectacles and Collie Baba's mustache and goatee).<p></p><div>The movie was a spin-off of the 1987 syndicated series <i>Disney's DuckTales</i>. Which itself was an adaptation of the Uncle Scrooge comic books series that really took off in 1952 (the character was first introduced in 1947).</div><div><br /></div><div>Alan Young voiced Uncle Scrooge in the original <i>DuckTales </i>TV series and film. He began playing Scrooge in a 1974 record album adaptation of <i>A Christmas Carol</i> which was later adapted into the famous 1983 film<i>, Mickey's Christmas Carol.</i> 1990s kids may also know Young from his role in the live action series <i>Mister Ed</i> (a 1961 sitcom about a man with a talking horse) that ran in reruns on Nick at Nite.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>DuckTales The Movie </i>was created by Disney TV Animation and animated by Walt Disney Animation France and Walt Disney Animation UK (the studios in France and the UK closed long ago). The screenplay was written by Alan Burnett, who went on to guide the stories for <i>Batman The Animated Series</i> at Warner Brothers. A real highlight of the movie for me is the adventurous soundtrack by David Newman.</div><div><br /></div><div>The character of Collie Baba has a very interesting function in the film. He is an important figure in the story, but the audience only gets brief hints of what he looks like in the form of statues and iconography.</div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-22198944988975682502023-09-24T11:51:00.001-07:002023-09-24T11:51:24.109-07:00A Goofy Movie: Roxanne and Max Sea It Eye To Eye<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FG_ILeHZQNSC3-ctTxtaYkb5rtlYXAOkx9SZIyGsg4R3S1MgXV9dkCtAM14VBhrN0jTo217bTljd6SYuJ15Rvkrr4YFNJskjX9BpnvcqRTx9tgKl3p8hjmv9bMrvAcsxFiJvReoLRYgiyQcsrq7xVRHTnqRlWYiKf9rqAD9nLGNV3guX_a4RdDOjtDc/s2100/IMG_1140.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="2100" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FG_ILeHZQNSC3-ctTxtaYkb5rtlYXAOkx9SZIyGsg4R3S1MgXV9dkCtAM14VBhrN0jTo217bTljd6SYuJ15Rvkrr4YFNJskjX9BpnvcqRTx9tgKl3p8hjmv9bMrvAcsxFiJvReoLRYgiyQcsrq7xVRHTnqRlWYiKf9rqAD9nLGNV3guX_a4RdDOjtDc/w640-h480/IMG_1140.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> In the 1995 film <i>A Goofy Movie</i>, Goofy drags his son, Max, across the country to go on a fishing trip---far from his beloved crush, Roxanne. Here, Max and Roxanne are made from painted sea shells and shark teeth found on the beaches of Venice, Florida.<div><br /><div><i>A Goofy Movie </i>was not a big hit when it debuted (I saw it in the theaters twice), but over the years it has gained a large following. It joins other Disney films like <i>The Nightmare Before Christmas</i> and <i>Hocus Pocus</i> that were not big successes in their debut but gained a huge following later.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Max was voiced by Jason Marsden, who many 1990s kids may remember as a live action TV series regular on <i>Step by Step </i>and <i>Boy Meets World</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Roxanne was voiced by Kellie Martin, who was a familiar face on TV on shows like <i>Life Goes On </i>and <i>ER. </i>She was also the voice of Daphne on <i>A Pup Named Scooby Doo.</i> In a way, Roxanne is kind of a cross between Daphne and Scooby Doo.</div><div><br /></div><div>The characters have pictures of their loving fathers (taken by Goofy in his photography studio at Kmart). Roxanne's Dad is a snarling, ferocious dog who adores his darling daughter. Poor Goofy (voiced by Bill Farmer), the ever cheerful soul, must clash with an aloof, moody teenager.</div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-174711167101714342023-07-21T08:23:00.000-07:002023-07-21T08:23:28.220-07:00French Vanilla Bully, German Chocolate Weenie, And The Butterscotch Terrier<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjHNLvc_Lq2MSMS9BnbGf_2-S7lqgBdjEt9sx8FAnxCDrWsHpSyVIV-N64GvYNrMkI4LH5JZ_xwjCniLULXIJa1Nk2GBbEFV3IaBHLWh91cqKEJDl4vkGjCFErmfoKM8VD6NjvaBrvqUCvpAlOkG5FoCZnXH5B5ug1_iz-a3z366fxoJy6swnRsMMnOQ/s2100/frenchvanillabully.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="2100" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjHNLvc_Lq2MSMS9BnbGf_2-S7lqgBdjEt9sx8FAnxCDrWsHpSyVIV-N64GvYNrMkI4LH5JZ_xwjCniLULXIJa1Nk2GBbEFV3IaBHLWh91cqKEJDl4vkGjCFErmfoKM8VD6NjvaBrvqUCvpAlOkG5FoCZnXH5B5ug1_iz-a3z366fxoJy6swnRsMMnOQ/w640-h480/frenchvanillabully.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>French Vanilla Bully, German Chocolate Weenie, and the Butterscotch Terrier are a trio of valuable, scheming dogs who create all kinds of mischief. They might even infiltrate a wealthy home and rob it. These characters are made of sea shells and other materials I found on the beaches in Venice, Florida (and some paint, too).</p><p>I became fascinated with French Bulldogs thanks to YouTube videos and TV shows like <i>Christina on the Coast</i>. The breed is incredibly popular now and there's also a bit of controversy surrounding them. They are prone to breathing issues. As someone with Sleep Apnea, I can relate to their plight.</p><p>I feel like I have always had neighbors or friends with Dachshunds. And let me tell you, Dachshund enthusiasts are devoted to their feisty German hot dog buddies. I was shocked to discover that Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers (the name actually means "badger hound" in German).</p><p>And then there is the Scottish Terrier. In junior high, I had a math teacher named Mrs. Cross. Mrs. Cross was obsessed with Scottie Dogs. She wore Scottie clothing, had a Scottie clock in the classroom, and all sorts of Scottie office supplies. She also had a pet Scottie named McDuff that she always talked about.</p><p>I wanted to do a dog project for a while, and I was drawn to the extreme, comical proportions of the French Bulldog, the Dachshund, and the Scottish Terrier. Things fell into place with the dessert "flavor" theme---French Vanilla, German Chocolate, and Butterscotch (I landed on Butterscotch after getting a Butterscotch Dilly Bar at Dairy Queen).</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-21833168428213355012023-07-03T18:00:00.000-07:002023-07-03T18:00:55.698-07:00Groovy Beauty and the Funky Beast: Freaky Foam Figure<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc5lilO6MLf5Bu_qFoI4doVLXZquPTNDc7AndJJOMDCRxVhDZcJ_nWveEUDNkdEusvvh1QIo3lLl0H2j9n2JOgNY_yb7AneUksKTZCsdztqBVcGFGJikG2yS6Vkt6QTQpx2m8tC9D8qOhlnxvTb7t1vGBvjxPQMjcYT1E0Y3brdNIpEApTJxeIGiNeAw/s4032/groovybeautyfunkybeast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGc5lilO6MLf5Bu_qFoI4doVLXZquPTNDc7AndJJOMDCRxVhDZcJ_nWveEUDNkdEusvvh1QIo3lLl0H2j9n2JOgNY_yb7AneUksKTZCsdztqBVcGFGJikG2yS6Vkt6QTQpx2m8tC9D8qOhlnxvTb7t1vGBvjxPQMjcYT1E0Y3brdNIpEApTJxeIGiNeAw/w640-h480/groovybeautyfunkybeast.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Back in 2015, I came up with an idea for a 1970s twist on the Beauty and the Beast story called <i>Groovy Beauty and the Funky Beast</i>. In 2018, I decided to build the Funky Beast using sheets of foam. For his gold chains and belt buckle, I used thin gold metallic sheets of fabric. At the time, I was frequently going to craft stores to discover new materials.</p><p>Like so many weird ideas I've had, I did this and forgot about it. </p><p>If this character was ever to be in a movie, I'd cast actor Jason Mantzoukas to play him. I feel like it looks like him and I wasn't even trying to do that.</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-65643862725848379362023-04-22T10:18:00.000-07:002023-04-22T10:18:32.028-07:00A Goofy Movie: Camping With Bigfoot And An Octopus<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaVnMs9ts3lmDuegh6wOR4GHjoH6Q_DubkxqlWIWYHKdfIrxzaH6v8DVcGnvakrvQhWMMxXDHmnOeT1UyJMke-3Kovxkbx9zPWxm9RDxolkjTWNrm_nk-t9N4xkwOve3LEZyudj5az1XLPiaYuUPtnGVUZjU6UvKCgHYVHgT-fLkmammqCyjdgPkz/s2100/IMG_0493.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhaVnMs9ts3lmDuegh6wOR4GHjoH6Q_DubkxqlWIWYHKdfIrxzaH6v8DVcGnvakrvQhWMMxXDHmnOeT1UyJMke-3Kovxkbx9zPWxm9RDxolkjTWNrm_nk-t9N4xkwOve3LEZyudj5az1XLPiaYuUPtnGVUZjU6UvKCgHYVHgT-fLkmammqCyjdgPkz/w480-h640/IMG_0493.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> Behold, the legendary Bigfoot!<div><br /><div>I love 1995's <i>A Goofy Movie </i>so much that I saw it twice in theaters when it debuted. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed it. One of my favorite things about the film is the entire camping sequence, and especially the Goofy world's version of Bigfoot (being an ape with a dog nose). I decided to make Bigfoot out of shells, shark teeth, and other sea junk found on the beaches of Venice, Florida. I also made Pete's pet octopus, who lives in a cool aquarium inside Pete's outrageous RV. The dome tank is a rock and the cabinet is made of shells. I love the absurdity of having an octopus on a camping trip. <p></p></div></div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-9027108624315810722023-04-13T17:44:00.000-07:002023-04-13T17:44:41.642-07:00New Shrimpola Cola From Sheep In The Big City: Contains Shellfish<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY1S9Vw0mWhGxheGDwGfGIR2E5gDVWj8wNCrS47QBz-rW0fEkG95mrp-0Sa8Tdm22WV7Jz_bJILZBzQJsEIc5kuk7lLhxV5OxZV8Oaca-8MKao0rrKMdiHzKGrj4tL6eB9i1_xZSS8CuBEZUAqXmCGejGwNpvVpZZGKPlPLuLZCJ8ZN8H4gXr6x1g/s2100/IMG_0456.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHY1S9Vw0mWhGxheGDwGfGIR2E5gDVWj8wNCrS47QBz-rW0fEkG95mrp-0Sa8Tdm22WV7Jz_bJILZBzQJsEIc5kuk7lLhxV5OxZV8Oaca-8MKao0rrKMdiHzKGrj4tL6eB9i1_xZSS8CuBEZUAqXmCGejGwNpvVpZZGKPlPLuLZCJ8ZN8H4gXr6x1g/w480-h640/IMG_0456.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> The 2000 Cartoon Network series <i>Sheep In The Big City </i>contained a commercial for a "brain burning" shrimp-based soda called Shrimpola Cola. The mascots for the new drink were a duo of Beastie Boys shrimp, singing a catchy rap jingle. I made one of the Shrimps out of shells, shark teeth, and rocks found on the beaches of Venice, Florida.<p></p><div>I did not catch <i>Sheep In The Big City</i> when it originally aired, but I stumbled across the Shrimpola Cola commercial on YouTube and fell in love with it. I really admire the graphic style of the <i>Sheep </i>series, created by Mo Willems. I'm especially impressed that he created shrimp characters that actually look like the Beastie Boys.</div><div><br /></div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-83738632763572664212023-03-01T18:34:00.001-08:002023-03-01T18:34:06.114-08:00Gooey Grilled Cheese And Tangy Tomato Soup<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oVcHcV3Q9coMqFOig7E2hVZcjt-XUrbCJ5pgOGJ6FwFAAQWcMfr0-XXCSPq934pDxxBxujP4nFLMinabHYVPMAdGm0AFFbXI9vY6bxrnWw_rtV5zWlBuwdxzeiUfIcob8OtH9_Csy7E0-shqQFnsJbrPeXnC5AePcg2204XejSmBRq3_m_KvSjFq/s2100/6AF259C9-8642-4DC6-BC31-D9A7204516D4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2100" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oVcHcV3Q9coMqFOig7E2hVZcjt-XUrbCJ5pgOGJ6FwFAAQWcMfr0-XXCSPq934pDxxBxujP4nFLMinabHYVPMAdGm0AFFbXI9vY6bxrnWw_rtV5zWlBuwdxzeiUfIcob8OtH9_Csy7E0-shqQFnsJbrPeXnC5AePcg2204XejSmBRq3_m_KvSjFq/w640-h480/6AF259C9-8642-4DC6-BC31-D9A7204516D4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> I like a challenge, which is why I decided to make characters out of one of my favorite classic comfort food duos, a Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Tomato Soup. Loner, Tangy Tomato Soup would love nothing more than to relax in his piping hot basin. But high strung, Gooey Grilled Cheese gets a thrill taking a big dive into the bowl to have a warm and toasty visit with his saucy, acidic best bud.Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-79438258921632727392023-01-11T19:06:00.004-08:002023-01-11T19:06:50.807-08:00Logan Berry and the Grape Bovine<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGegTnyblOQST1QFDV1zRvLVli4kYVMIJmkrTLnK9MNtnwRnUwulhJ2asnlHgq2wabMkIzJZqh3TiUAigxxGhaBhLpnLqC9qzI3okc-fvtteYIAB-YhKtM49pwjxP_Nc4tq3Zcxh3zAsx187aoVcsYQ3qjuM1U-nBxAuEqfq0xiGlM1xT9i_Gi4wv2/s1908/4F41C20F-3F45-4FF9-B24D-1414D2A6B3B6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1908" data-original-width="1574" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGegTnyblOQST1QFDV1zRvLVli4kYVMIJmkrTLnK9MNtnwRnUwulhJ2asnlHgq2wabMkIzJZqh3TiUAigxxGhaBhLpnLqC9qzI3okc-fvtteYIAB-YhKtM49pwjxP_Nc4tq3Zcxh3zAsx187aoVcsYQ3qjuM1U-nBxAuEqfq0xiGlM1xT9i_Gi4wv2/w528-h640/4F41C20F-3F45-4FF9-B24D-1414D2A6B3B6.jpeg" width="528" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div>Logan Berry sports a milkman type uniform and has a knack for whipping up some delicious treats, including his signature Grape Bovine. The Grape Bovine is Logan's twist on a classic Purple Cow drink, which is a grape soda ice cream float. Logan Berry happens to be an inventive chef and farmer, and creates his Grape Bovine from scratch. He grows the grapes in his vineyard to make his own grape soft drink and to form two Grape Bovine cow nostrils. He milks his cow to make the tasty ice cream that forms the Grape Bovine head. He mixes his own whipped cream to make the Grape Bovine's hair. He creates his own candy corn to make the Grape Bovine's horns and ears. He even prepares his own chocolate sprinkles to represent the Grape Bovine's eyes. Logan Berry and the Grape Bovine here are made from sea shells, rocks, and other items found on the beaches of Venice, Florida. The characters are ready to make Logan Berry and the Grape Bovine a national restaurant chain.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am often inspired to create characters based on actual people I meet. Logan Berry and the Grape Bovine is such a case. Logan Berry is based on an actual Logan (whose last name was NOT Berry) I knew who worked at a Culver's frozen custard restaurant in Florida. A Loganberry is a hybrid of a blackberry and a raspberry. A grape is actually considered to be a berry, so it felt natural to have a berry based character with a berry based frozen treat. I was also inspired by the legendary Orange Julius fruit/dessert based drink empire.</div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-47131403304270948572022-12-31T13:15:00.000-08:002022-12-31T13:15:32.132-08:00J-Man Jokerz Wild: Batman Beyond the Sea Returns<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXfkG3V0WvAByrVeKi0M11jmknRciwcPM6PiIlGPcYQ5VUgUuztcWW7tpVqX7h8nMHSSjtZImLvxEBmWIQRIEmwUJRUJAi6AlndUB5A5WP33i5NR6KgLT5dlqrbB1_OmYcui5K1o9lm96b4yzmvo-U2LNvDz7JkEUZpjqM-nMr6lNgTPfWmaj6Shz/s2100/AFCD848C-C592-445C-96E7-92C6178B14C2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXfkG3V0WvAByrVeKi0M11jmknRciwcPM6PiIlGPcYQ5VUgUuztcWW7tpVqX7h8nMHSSjtZImLvxEBmWIQRIEmwUJRUJAi6AlndUB5A5WP33i5NR6KgLT5dlqrbB1_OmYcui5K1o9lm96b4yzmvo-U2LNvDz7JkEUZpjqM-nMr6lNgTPfWmaj6Shz/w480-h640/AFCD848C-C592-445C-96E7-92C6178B14C2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> The world of the futuristic <i>Batman Beyond</i> animated series is terrorized by a gang of thugs called the Jokerz. The most Jokerish looking of the Jokerz is a dapper guy named J-Man. J-Man is the second character I've built from <i>Batman Beyond</i>, using shells, rocks, and shark teeth found on the beaches of Venice, Florida. J-Man was voiced by none other than <i>Batman The Animated Series</i> artist and legend, Bruce Timm.<p></p><div>There are some very sinister looking members of the Jokerz gang. One of them, named Scab, looks like one of Santa's Elves from 1983's <i>A Christmas Story </i>(the ones that are rough with Ralphie and Randy at the department store).</div><div><br /></div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-73245462524267658132022-12-04T14:09:00.001-08:002022-12-04T14:09:46.796-08:00Peter Pan’s Flight: From Disneyland to DisneySea<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K3kyyK6MGf7G6nXa7QvyIOT2RMzt-IrDaVOcXLpLyZdYtfeYrtq0mAmYS9sfdMCGNbu4mOSh56wECkbHliRLsWoNY7ixx8_R91eobSdyZiVxqDUH2NVBhL-7b01nGQ0a1fwQdPbZPSdwBmkBSUr-KM9kWepudOTdhTxYzt3sYt-VMg7aVa0smnEN/s2100/996D6E0A-2D6D-409E-9032-34F75E467620.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1K3kyyK6MGf7G6nXa7QvyIOT2RMzt-IrDaVOcXLpLyZdYtfeYrtq0mAmYS9sfdMCGNbu4mOSh56wECkbHliRLsWoNY7ixx8_R91eobSdyZiVxqDUH2NVBhL-7b01nGQ0a1fwQdPbZPSdwBmkBSUr-KM9kWepudOTdhTxYzt3sYt-VMg7aVa0smnEN/w480-h640/996D6E0A-2D6D-409E-9032-34F75E467620.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />My introduction to Disney's Peter Pan was riding Peter Pan's Flight at Walt Disney World in Florida as a small child back in 1983 (I did not see the <i>Peter Pan</i> film until it was released on VHS in the 1990s). The attraction was definitely my favorite thing at The Magic Kingdom at that time, particularly because it seemed like the least threatening of all the "dark rides" there. I made Peter Pan and Tinkerbell using shells, shark teeth, and other sea junk found on the beaches of Venice, Florida.<div><br /></div><div>Peter Pan's Flight can be found at Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Shanghai Disneyland. In addition, a brand new Peter Pan "land" with a brand new flying attraction is coming to Tokyo DisneySea in Japan. It will be part of Peter Pan's Neverland in the new "Fantasy Springs" expansion planned for 2024.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the Peter Pan's Flight attractions are slightly different. I've only ever been on the versions in Florida and California. But from ride videos I've seen, I think Tokyo Disneyland has the best one, as it looks to have taken the Florida version and expanded and upgraded the experience. If you are a fan of Peter Pan, Tokyo seems to be the place to be.<br /><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-77936273827281909032022-11-20T08:55:00.001-08:002022-11-20T08:55:55.928-08:001971 Walt Disney World Winnie the Pooh, Made From Shells And Shark Teeth Too<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqon1LooctjRgIfJxIUdiAZv3ClmcqbIQW1gYR2rB-Uru8bbUSF75eB-_28ikpi9L_ckXR8Tp111KHKaqO5eBPVmND2X2vlOPWUC0twBFmcrncJu1WjON9i3E23ITahWZsyDiBH0al1SSeXOa_NDCC0JB0gyRVypgEYK6eK8Kzb8SzLDUmnCnquIC2/s2100/199BBAF7-66F0-41D9-A151-6CC8705D88C1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqon1LooctjRgIfJxIUdiAZv3ClmcqbIQW1gYR2rB-Uru8bbUSF75eB-_28ikpi9L_ckXR8Tp111KHKaqO5eBPVmND2X2vlOPWUC0twBFmcrncJu1WjON9i3E23ITahWZsyDiBH0al1SSeXOa_NDCC0JB0gyRVypgEYK6eK8Kzb8SzLDUmnCnquIC2/w480-h640/199BBAF7-66F0-41D9-A151-6CC8705D88C1.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /> Winnie the Pooh has been at Walt Disney World since it opened in 1971. The first version of Pooh that people could meet at the Parks was "Honey Pot Hat Winnie the Pooh." It was basically a big puppet, with the performer looking out of the honey pot and controlling the wiggling nose, ears, and puppet arms with their hands. This Pooh could also be found at Disneyland (where it debuted in 1966), as well as in Sears stores and at Tokyo Disneyland in Japan. This version of Pooh was retired from the Parks by 1990, but lives on in YouTube videos. I made Winnie and his pesky bee companion using shells, rocks, and shark teeth from the beaches in Venice, Florida.<p></p><div>Pooh was a big part of my first visit to Walt Disney World in 1981, which ended up ending before it started. Because my brother got very sick, we only got to visit the Disney Village Marketplace, which at the time had a Winnie the Pooh themed character shop. The shop had an animated Pooh with a balloon that drifted through the store. I have never been able to find any pictures of that store online. Maybe someone who reads this will remember it, too.</div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-59716696699998472152022-10-28T15:41:00.000-07:002022-10-28T15:41:11.496-07:00Smurfs, Avatar, and Boo Berry: North Port Florida Culver’s Blue Cutlery Crafts<p> </p><div style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2100" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EvSAdiKnTIg45JB1rFJ_3xlQjCYoSwK4cFEfHi_8wCfcBPwHH9JpFM2AaHP7VpRUuMAZ2qps40Osd-QSx4282mwY39_9sv3zU6OOpkulhIQQUKjgnIrP70TlBWbT4YqXCAVvuybycOqSeQJWlJIqgNlh3C1q7ov1Uk4qoQmHYq54F-6XiRWrNwY7/w640-h480/DC634E07-7D3F-4974-BBC1-5104D2A867EA.jpeg" width="640" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EvSAdiKnTIg45JB1rFJ_3xlQjCYoSwK4cFEfHi_8wCfcBPwHH9JpFM2AaHP7VpRUuMAZ2qps40Osd-QSx4282mwY39_9sv3zU6OOpkulhIQQUKjgnIrP70TlBWbT4YqXCAVvuybycOqSeQJWlJIqgNlh3C1q7ov1Uk4qoQmHYq54F-6XiRWrNwY7/s2100/DC634E07-7D3F-4974-BBC1-5104D2A867EA.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b></b></a></div><br /><p></p><div>I live in Venice, Florida, but also work in nearby North Port. In time, I've become friends with some of the folks at the local Culver's restaurant. Culver's is famous for its frozen custard. They also have blue plastic utensils. One day I decided to make a very unique cross over. Smurfs (using standard Culver's spoons), Jake Sully from Avatar (using a long ice cream spoon), and General Mills Cereal ghost Boo Berry (using a fork). The Smurfs and Jake Sully enjoy their familiar forest setting in a small house plant. Boo Berry enjoys haunting the house.</div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-11741498801288824802022-10-05T07:00:00.003-07:002022-10-05T07:00:48.626-07:00Pua the Pig’s Seaside Luau: The Rise of Moana’s Sidelined Sidekick <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RQeu-Bt-KVtQ878W3hmyKu1SOX-pfQHy1gaC7260ZXe1LtDrhilfIF_gTSRjZg1uVYmpeWyGP8WCVQ3xGYnSq2MWX0ZV-we0Bd7xWszA8upH_J9nw1eFUvmZs3-XGX3TEnAb9FjGgqzVbKf8pieNGaJU_JQXGPJxPUMzsQUI_-B_xWmaYKa0y22_/s2100/790D55D1-5A7F-4D90-8F8D-FF365044B1E8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1575" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RQeu-Bt-KVtQ878W3hmyKu1SOX-pfQHy1gaC7260ZXe1LtDrhilfIF_gTSRjZg1uVYmpeWyGP8WCVQ3xGYnSq2MWX0ZV-we0Bd7xWszA8upH_J9nw1eFUvmZs3-XGX3TEnAb9FjGgqzVbKf8pieNGaJU_JQXGPJxPUMzsQUI_-B_xWmaYKa0y22_/w480-h640/790D55D1-5A7F-4D90-8F8D-FF365044B1E8.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>When Disney first revealed details about “Moana” years ago, I was intrigued by the cute pig character, Pua. Of course, when the movie was actually released, Pua was barely in the film. From a story perspective, I can understand why he wasn’t included. But a funny thing has happened. Though he was not a big part of the movie, Pua became a smash hit merchandising character. I made Pua here using shells and shark teeth from the beaches in Venice, Florida.</p><p>I finished Pua 3 days after Hurricane Ian struck Florida. We were luckily spared significant damage in our neighborhood.</p><p>My first introduction to “Moana” was in 1990 on a very memorable trip to Hawaii. While on Oahu, we visited the (then) brand new Disney Store at the Ala Moana Center mall. </p><p>We also visited Maui for about a week. We took a drive to the remote town of Hana. On the way, we saw a “Baby Pig Crossing” sign deep in the jungle.</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-34774266674314043902022-05-15T15:29:00.000-07:002022-05-15T15:29:43.227-07:00One Way Sesame Street: Muppet Fonzie Jumps the Shark Teeth<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SdkGzIFgwSPWNFnY-HnZTVJ5Rl7imf8NXchQ8cc_KKgWLBdLqYbO63kbyjrFNTECvZuPofXI2CcPe1M3EMGdMYF_WKk4t8lOmbk6XkmwAIyad3stplGmNVD-V1gYRlL6r3jDUrhaUWLRKBtka-UZaQ10qiJz2cWZP1IQ24SOBZBlpn1CAQoC2KeR/s4032/onewaysesamestreetfonzie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4SdkGzIFgwSPWNFnY-HnZTVJ5Rl7imf8NXchQ8cc_KKgWLBdLqYbO63kbyjrFNTECvZuPofXI2CcPe1M3EMGdMYF_WKk4t8lOmbk6XkmwAIyad3stplGmNVD-V1gYRlL6r3jDUrhaUWLRKBtka-UZaQ10qiJz2cWZP1IQ24SOBZBlpn1CAQoC2KeR/w480-h640/onewaysesamestreetfonzie.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /> "One Way" is one of my earliest memories of watching Sesame Street as a three year old in 1978. "One Way" featured a parody of Henry Winkler's "The Fonz" from the TV show "Happy Days" on his motorcycle trying to navigate his way down a one way street. The song "One Way" was performed by singer and composer Christopher Cerf, who created a great deal of music for Sesame Street. "One Way" was released on record albums, attributed to Sesame Street's resident rock band, "Little Chrissy and the Alphabeats" (Cerf also performed for these musical Muppets, notably the song "You're Alive").<p></p><p>"One Way" was simply a memory stuck in my head for decades until I finally saw it again on YouTube.</p><p>I created Muppet Fonzie, the motorcycle, and the One Way sign using shells, rocks, and other sea junk found on the beaches of Venice, Florida (I used paint and glue, too).</p><p>Interestingly, Henry Winkler was speaking at an event for the Tidewell Foundation in nearby Sarasota last month and I unfortunately did not get to go see him. That would have been cool, like Fonzie.</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-48340783050690906692022-04-23T19:14:00.000-07:002022-04-23T19:14:07.248-07:00Disneyland Haunted Mansion Rock Rocket Skull<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tcCHpCB6erfxhxPMv1ne-s1We0pV_1A0KUsqaaaWLJbFli0fkuKMszDhjXOBgOcUQ-CiEA44b7wAtbZFOveq1Zu3bYwrIvku-O7k0le_JsOENb1Yi1ip0SpyhRbbLkiv1aq7mXAJzeB-2PMLL_5scEHXMfrj3339vyQ-A1tjdcwXDvHeL8XalSHH/s4032/RocketSkull.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tcCHpCB6erfxhxPMv1ne-s1We0pV_1A0KUsqaaaWLJbFli0fkuKMszDhjXOBgOcUQ-CiEA44b7wAtbZFOveq1Zu3bYwrIvku-O7k0le_JsOENb1Yi1ip0SpyhRbbLkiv1aq7mXAJzeB-2PMLL_5scEHXMfrj3339vyQ-A1tjdcwXDvHeL8XalSHH/w480-h640/RocketSkull.png" width="480" /></a></div><br /> Disney's The Haunted Mansion attraction at the Disney parks around the world is full of surprises. The original 1969 Disneyland version in California contains an effect that once featured prominently but now clings to life in the Graveyard. It's a Rocket Skull, a "Blast-Up" feature based on a simple trick used in spook house rides and amusement parks for decades. The skulls are attached to thin wires and are sent flying up with a blast of air. In Disneyland, two Rocket Skulls were in the Attic Scene for decades. They were removed when Disney started tinkering with the bride storyline. One survivor Skull still exists near the tea party scene in the Graveyard.<p></p><p>I'm not sure if the Rocket Skulls air blast effect was used in any other Haunted Mansion besides the one in California. The Skulls themselves are used in the Great Hall scene in all the Mansions, where they float out of the massive pipe organ (and are a Pepper's Ghost effect like the other spirits in that scene).</p><p>This Blast-Up Rocket Skull is made from rocks and shells I found on the beaches in Venice, Florida. This is my third Haunted Mansion character made out of sea junk (I've also made a Pop Up Ghost and a Gargoyle).</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-63940756177248312112022-03-26T18:07:00.002-07:002022-03-26T18:07:55.670-07:00Charles Entertainment Cheese, The Pizza Time Theatre Rat<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweZkbmbWpmUSR3SVwfMXBZDTNCVeCsvP43OQTMUogeyhzzYfqhVyfQ1UN7-_IK7DbXL47t9ZuorbELrqnthyqE4qJz53zbhp4hE853SNy4bkVMl-xrtbVYETPW5zTYw-SmK6owV9oXwEtWpSzn0n-oyRC99xtO99wH3fO45KCakyeLJAbZnccru1C/s4032/chuckecheesepizzatime.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhweZkbmbWpmUSR3SVwfMXBZDTNCVeCsvP43OQTMUogeyhzzYfqhVyfQ1UN7-_IK7DbXL47t9ZuorbELrqnthyqE4qJz53zbhp4hE853SNy4bkVMl-xrtbVYETPW5zTYw-SmK6owV9oXwEtWpSzn0n-oyRC99xtO99wH3fO45KCakyeLJAbZnccru1C/w640-h480/chuckecheesepizzatime.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I grew up within walking distance to Showbiz Pizza Place in Vestavia Hills, Alabama. Over the years, I watched as a rat named Chuck E. Cheese slowly invaded the restaurant (starting with redemption prize souvenir banks) before the Showbiz chain was eventually renamed to Chuck E. Cheese. The Showbiz/Chuck E. Cheese drama is an insanely complicated story that I will not even attempt to explain here (go watch Defunctland's Chuck E. Cheese story on YouTube!). But as a kid, I had never been to a Chuck E. Cheese branded location (though I remember hearing classmates talk about it). Chuck E. Cheese started in 1977, and the animated figures used in the pizza restaurants were characters cut off at the waist inside picture frames mounted on the walls. Chuck E. Cheese (AKA Charles Entertainment Cheese) himself was a tough New Jersey Rat with a cigar. Even though I grew up with the full bodied, more advanced characters from Showbiz Pizza, I do find the original, clunky 1977 Chuck E. Cheese "Portrait Animatronics" to be charming. Eventually, Chuck E. Cheese was redesigned and his species was reassigned to a somehow more acceptable mouse alternative. I miss the sleazy, inappropriate, old rat version of Chuck E. Cheese. So I made a figure of Charles Entertainment Cheese using Sculpey and paint to celebrate the flea-ridden pest who drank and smoked and served up pizza to video game-obsessed kids for decades.</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-79181738202850600792022-03-04T15:28:00.000-08:002022-03-04T15:28:15.079-08:00Batman Beyond The Sea<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisRQIZvo5Akv-NvxHDGVKIu3HWJ1Kb_dNS90MeyTT2jUBTnq7VpYOf50VS4UW_xKsp-bduUQWkNtsmpkesjtzpvVyr9adrZDrSyZHUoXbj3fZcGEMj2j16liVvbAh4ijLXYlAfFdFRdLrghP-rjRxU1khYxvms04YJy87CeEES0C05LOUOj3BmkfSp=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisRQIZvo5Akv-NvxHDGVKIu3HWJ1Kb_dNS90MeyTT2jUBTnq7VpYOf50VS4UW_xKsp-bduUQWkNtsmpkesjtzpvVyr9adrZDrSyZHUoXbj3fZcGEMj2j16liVvbAh4ijLXYlAfFdFRdLrghP-rjRxU1khYxvms04YJy87CeEES0C05LOUOj3BmkfSp=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The 1999 sci-fi animated series <i>Batman Beyond</i> featured a teenage Batman named Terry McGinnis (voiced by Will Friedle) in a cyberpunk future. This new Batman was mentored by the original Batman, Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy).</p><p>Though I remember when the series aired on the WB (remember that network?) I never actually saw it until a friend introduced me to it on HBO Max. It's rather shocking that this complex and striking series was a Saturday Morning show. The series has a very strong cult following, and is beloved by many fans.</p><p>I live in Venice, Florida, and I decided to build Batman Beyond out of shells and shark teeth I found on the beaches here. Batman's fingers, feet, and arm spikes are made out of shark teeth. Batman's legs and arms are made out of cerith shells. The iconic Batman Beyond pointy headpiece is made from boring turret snail shells.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-13728068605603467682022-02-08T16:47:00.002-08:002022-02-08T16:47:21.474-08:00Kings Island Smurf Blue Ice Cream: Cincinnati Soft Serve<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq83L7WWLe2zuIaT_f8uvYyBguij18lEseolmfn7d4738TOERaEoMz1z241ax_JZP4INdgawsfWBk7K1DU0uqiGaXucdhltCZuvwLYmFkxX_SHJuFTk-SsLaxRuPBKIyv_dbmanqwQ_EetQFPcjSv5j2H_y4qt5q4cHQyQDADpOUlaP5XfmOvE1F4N=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq83L7WWLe2zuIaT_f8uvYyBguij18lEseolmfn7d4738TOERaEoMz1z241ax_JZP4INdgawsfWBk7K1DU0uqiGaXucdhltCZuvwLYmFkxX_SHJuFTk-SsLaxRuPBKIyv_dbmanqwQ_EetQFPcjSv5j2H_y4qt5q4cHQyQDADpOUlaP5XfmOvE1F4N=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In 1984, Kings Island amusement park in Ohio was invaded by the Smurfs. The Smurfs had been around since 1958 in Europe, but they hit America with full force in the eighties thanks to the Hanna Barbera produced TV series in 1981. The Enchanted Voyage dark ride in the Hanna Barbera section of Kings Island got a Smurf makeover, and special blue Smurf Ice Cream was sold. By 1991, the Smurfs were evicted. Eventually, all the Hanna Barbera characters were kicked out of Kings Island. For a while, the park became Paramount's Kings Island, and Nickelodeon characters took over. Ultimately, even the Nickelodeon characters were discontinued when Cedar Fair took control of Kings Island, and Snoopy and the Peanuts gang became the mascots for the park.</p><p>The Smurfs may be long gone from Kings Island, but their legacy lives on in the form of Blue Ice Cream, which is still sold in the park and is a Kings Island tradition. I made this Smurf and his namesake Ohio treat using shells and shark teeth I found on the beaches in Venice, Florida.</p><p>I grew up in Alabama, but had family in Indianapolis, Indiana. We visited Kings Island in 1988 and I got to experience Smurfs Enchanted Voyage in all its smurfy splendor. Unfortunately, it rained all day when we visited, and none of us were in the mood to try the signature ice cream.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-48464039905861669722021-12-26T18:59:00.000-08:002021-12-26T18:59:06.718-08:00Vint Motorvehicle: Rocky Roads and Shell Stations<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg8sX90UYYIdSnffTFXlj7JXEpCU8QZI0rR1h0H1NUWJQh_fC32l7C2L5dodxUPncFqqsfqKBfoJLr4Wbyf9imIl9ciEfX1x9bHDdHQoJ0LcP9xzEvNzSDOFXE9A5oYuxerR4B6Gp-3ng-5MwgpURU-qYXM1JatlnXHgZjOciSDDrBcvtuttz_LrnR=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjg8sX90UYYIdSnffTFXlj7JXEpCU8QZI0rR1h0H1NUWJQh_fC32l7C2L5dodxUPncFqqsfqKBfoJLr4Wbyf9imIl9ciEfX1x9bHDdHQoJ0LcP9xzEvNzSDOFXE9A5oYuxerR4B6Gp-3ng-5MwgpURU-qYXM1JatlnXHgZjOciSDDrBcvtuttz_LrnR=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /> Where I live in Florida (Venice), I've noticed that a lot of people here collect vintage cars. And also motorcycles. And I also live very close to a small airport and I see a lot of old airplanes. This led me to create the world of Vint Motorvehicle. These characters were created using materials I found on the beaches (shells, rocks, and shark teeth) plus glue and paint.<p></p><p>Vint "HotRod" Motorvehicle is the leader of this retro crew. Vint is short for "Vintage."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4yVm3kS3dJKU8qz-Sm69K86nVqAgfSzmMA2G0CrtyuQCox7MrpiVswhf0LwFRyBISlmcoEgKd6t7QcxZuZpO8zabZADt8HWFNnvAJDVqVPUJwGO2kDXP7Ovlj1cvJ5sCLmUcM3jCVDfI126pUzhdyQ03HYusyeDzSdKce28izotce-0AegBFo-l4F=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4yVm3kS3dJKU8qz-Sm69K86nVqAgfSzmMA2G0CrtyuQCox7MrpiVswhf0LwFRyBISlmcoEgKd6t7QcxZuZpO8zabZADt8HWFNnvAJDVqVPUJwGO2kDXP7Ovlj1cvJ5sCLmUcM3jCVDfI126pUzhdyQ03HYusyeDzSdKce28izotce-0AegBFo-l4F=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I think I love old cars so much because they remind me of amusement park ride vehicles (like the Antique Car ride at Six Flags, or Lightning Rod at Dollywood). </p><p>Damian Cruiser is a hellion on wheels. He's up to no good, and that is OK.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS9hQsEq5604xi0O8NgIasg_F85uAeWEavc-9rfqjIX6qWfOp3smDXe3jxak2XQ5AZ7XVRzlSQBshpGSd7GWi2d4Vn1ZzhA3zPspcRCxMkjB--eeuNJ0bz_o1EZ0l8zeOv8KbE3c6zvwLxrvEf95uPGhcNeZ8lvvVMiOF9wsb36uSuK6tqaqGe31S4=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiS9hQsEq5604xi0O8NgIasg_F85uAeWEavc-9rfqjIX6qWfOp3smDXe3jxak2XQ5AZ7XVRzlSQBshpGSd7GWi2d4Vn1ZzhA3zPspcRCxMkjB--eeuNJ0bz_o1EZ0l8zeOv8KbE3c6zvwLxrvEf95uPGhcNeZ8lvvVMiOF9wsb36uSuK6tqaqGe31S4=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>With his red hot color and fins, the name Damian was definitely inspired by the character in the film <i>The Omen.</i></p><p>Baron Thundercloud is a dashing adventurer airplane.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGFTm2FNYZKsoedaVvLYltgbqpkjvY9zEiAMLCKr3xIdmh8zmxtT6m2PsypidM9Mxe9k3BkG6LtiAULF1YGAe_DQEe-Yz-PHdngDx2cLiCWW9thuxfkZe3TJFAANMmobjeJdM6m27-WxNqTq2w8gCl5R5Vrj-c1R3xxk5bVoqXUN9L5IXmCwM6hNxr=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhGFTm2FNYZKsoedaVvLYltgbqpkjvY9zEiAMLCKr3xIdmh8zmxtT6m2PsypidM9Mxe9k3BkG6LtiAULF1YGAe_DQEe-Yz-PHdngDx2cLiCWW9thuxfkZe3TJFAANMmobjeJdM6m27-WxNqTq2w8gCl5R5Vrj-c1R3xxk5bVoqXUN9L5IXmCwM6hNxr=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p>Baron Thundercloud is a bit of a show-off.</p><p>Razorback Chopper is one bad motorcycle.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglIDn6pRus4yeI7LFFSKsLzdMzuHhxxeASx29M0fkJm-J8pK2536nz5S1oyidJVZtIw-G5rRxnRmnZvSFBCcgGcnJPZo5OS8DDWGrk93BFCURozVIE1PxN0aG40jIJADRJA0Fn1QbgGtTDJDYiznP9SnsO4c2sS2G5-yACGFCS9Gj_r3yAV-xP0c1x=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEglIDn6pRus4yeI7LFFSKsLzdMzuHhxxeASx29M0fkJm-J8pK2536nz5S1oyidJVZtIw-G5rRxnRmnZvSFBCcgGcnJPZo5OS8DDWGrk93BFCURozVIE1PxN0aG40jIJADRJA0Fn1QbgGtTDJDYiznP9SnsO4c2sS2G5-yACGFCS9Gj_r3yAV-xP0c1x=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Razorback is the definition of a road hog. Vint better stay out of his way!</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-91255839217458651012021-11-05T17:20:00.000-07:002021-11-05T17:20:51.594-07:00The Infinite Pools of Johnny Chlorine<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTLA6avFf9o/YYXE38TPGeI/AAAAAAAAN8o/3PtWI4jAlfYk0OTavpSlw-XLFNjDNTPxwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/infinitePoolsofJohnnyChlorine.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NTLA6avFf9o/YYXE38TPGeI/AAAAAAAAN8o/3PtWI4jAlfYk0OTavpSlw-XLFNjDNTPxwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/infinitePoolsofJohnnyChlorine.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Sometimes I will come up with a character that is based on someone I meet. Such is the case with Johnny Chlorine, who is based on my friend John (himself a pool guy). I ended up making a diorama of the world of Johnny Chlorine out of painted sea shells and sharks teeth found near my home in Venice, Florida.</p><p>Another big inspiration for Johnny Chlorine is video games from the 1980s (ones I grew up with) featuring characters that had to do their jobs and fight off obstacles (Dig Dug, Burger Time, and Paperboy to name a few). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O12_Ml0WP6Y/YYXFHcPOxEI/AAAAAAAAN8s/ZSjVdYuEGTcz31GYcld3jjEHNw_EiGFggCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/johnnychlorinepicture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O12_Ml0WP6Y/YYXFHcPOxEI/AAAAAAAAN8s/ZSjVdYuEGTcz31GYcld3jjEHNw_EiGFggCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/johnnychlorinepicture.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Being in Florida, a big obstacle for Johnny Chlorine is alligators and frogs (adorable frogs)</p><p>In the tradition of Donkey Kong, Johnny Chlorine has a son named Johnny Chlorine Junior.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx848O12rU4/YYXFWpjb1hI/AAAAAAAAN80/K_Q6rQr9zlkw8HRsf-ZGDdXQ8BGhcFgdwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/JohnnyChlorineJuniorandbugs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sx848O12rU4/YYXFWpjb1hI/AAAAAAAAN80/K_Q6rQr9zlkw8HRsf-ZGDdXQ8BGhcFgdwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/JohnnyChlorineJuniorandbugs.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Johnny Chlorine Junior helps fight of bloodthirsty Mosquitoes. Junior gets help from friendly Dragonflies.</p><p>Menacing Trees are also a big pain in the neck for Johnny Chlorine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuFMrqD-ZSg/YYXFlUt6Z0I/AAAAAAAAN88/V1S9vXzmQwsJwm6J5M7jwWpwShJVVQvjwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/johnnychlorinetree.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yuFMrqD-ZSg/YYXFlUt6Z0I/AAAAAAAAN88/V1S9vXzmQwsJwm6J5M7jwWpwShJVVQvjwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/johnnychlorinetree.png" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Shaken tree limbs unleash swirling, mischief-making Leaves.<br /><p>Murders of crows wreak havoc on Johnny Chlorine's pools, as do pesky Water Beetles.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5ZWrS-Kc-k/YYXF1KC2wVI/AAAAAAAAN9E/kjowYetPhl0ELz5SwudnSBMo4VXYEc4ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/johnnychlorinestormy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z5ZWrS-Kc-k/YYXF1KC2wVI/AAAAAAAAN9E/kjowYetPhl0ELz5SwudnSBMo4VXYEc4ZwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/johnnychlorinestormy.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Johnny Chlorine's biggest helper is Stormy Daniel, a rain cloud with lightning who fills up pools for Johnny Chlorine and gives him a day off once in a while.</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-59637777045461862432021-07-04T12:20:00.001-07:002021-07-04T12:20:48.536-07:00Mitch Weaver: Spiny Orb Spider<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Tq9sBU6Fqc/YOIEEBJqntI/AAAAAAAAN7w/00EdO7_8V1oENY88DpF8jjesEWZGAT4dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mitchweaverfigurines.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Tq9sBU6Fqc/YOIEEBJqntI/AAAAAAAAN7w/00EdO7_8V1oENY88DpF8jjesEWZGAT4dQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/mitchweaverfigurines.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Sometimes I come up with characters based on things I encounter in real life. Such is the case with <i>Mitch Weaver</i>. Years ago, when I was living in Alabama, I discovered a spider in the front yard. To me, it looked like its abdomen was a smiling skull with horns. It turned out to be a Spiny Orb Weaver. I happen to have grown up with someone named Mitch Weaver. So I decided that could be a fun character. I created sculptures of Mitch Weaver and his Fly friend using Sculpey clay and paint. Mitch Weaver and the fly were created to look reminiscent of members of a biker gang.</p><p>I ultimately moved to Florida and discovered that there was a Spiny Orb Weaver spider in the backyard here, too. I also started (trying) to keep carnivorous plants in the backyard. I got a Venus Flytrap and a Tropical Pitcher Plant. The Tropical Pitcher Plant in particular looks like a grotesque creature, and along with the Venus Flytraps, are perfect antagonists to a spider and insects.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wNlxcd5u4K8/YOIESAUQwzI/AAAAAAAAN70/HWpdcXACk2EMVYCQVarewto3AXD4V8cHwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/mitchweaverconceptart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wNlxcd5u4K8/YOIESAUQwzI/AAAAAAAAN70/HWpdcXACk2EMVYCQVarewto3AXD4V8cHwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/mitchweaverconceptart.png" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Carnivorous plants are famous for feeding on flies, but they indeed also eat spiders (and really anything else that may wander into their trap). They lure in their prey with nectar. Because of this, <i>Mitch</i> <i>Weaver</i> as a concept is an allegory for substance addiction.<br /><p><br /></p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-60202815715411693302021-06-09T12:40:00.004-07:002021-08-05T18:17:26.996-07:00Six Flags Over Texas Spee-Lunker's Cave Crafts: Stalactite Statues<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pn3lE-THMsc/YMES8fiB2_I/AAAAAAAAN1s/iUKo5_dgdkwUbrMh9m4Wzn_Hj9bEoA7HgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/spee1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pn3lE-THMsc/YMES8fiB2_I/AAAAAAAAN1s/iUKo5_dgdkwUbrMh9m4Wzn_Hj9bEoA7HgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/spee1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>From 1964 to 1991, Six Flags Over Texas had a unique boat ride called The Cave. This attraction featured a society of small, fantasy creatures called The Spee-Lunkers. The Spee-Lunkers are very unique characters, which remind me a bit of elves, but also seahorses. I decided to make some Spee-Lunkers using shells, shark teeth, and other materials I found on the beach in Venice, Florida. I painted the characters to mimic the black light effect that was used in the ride.</p><p>When the Spee-Lunkers were evicted from The Cave, the ride gained a Looney Tunes theme and became Yosemite Sam's and the Gold River Adventure. This was a wild west boat ride with animated Warner Brothers figures. The Yosemite Sam ride closed in 2018 due to damage from a storm.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptbxaPha5eo/YMETdhz6PsI/AAAAAAAAN10/3IG-kjok0FgofLroMifFjR0r0Y0aOgZ6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/spee2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptbxaPha5eo/YMETdhz6PsI/AAAAAAAAN10/3IG-kjok0FgofLroMifFjR0r0Y0aOgZ6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/spee2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Spee-Lunkers (or "Spees" as they are also called) may be gone, but they are not forgotten. A number of Spees managed to leave the ride and find themselves in the homes of caring Texans, who sometimes include them in their Christmas displays.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTxZOBGYRd0/YMPhGzP1GKI/AAAAAAAAN2E/eGwEyQDrkY44IbEHhDYRrRSLxuTO8n6OwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/speelunkerssixflags.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XTxZOBGYRd0/YMPhGzP1GKI/AAAAAAAAN2E/eGwEyQDrkY44IbEHhDYRrRSLxuTO8n6OwCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/speelunkerssixflags.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Curiously, in 2019, Dollywood in Tennessee presented a number of proposed concepts for a dark ride as part of the new Wildwood Grove section. One of the concepts was a "Spelunking in the Smokies" interactive dark ride.<br /><p>Will the Spee-Lunkers ever return to Six Flags Over Texas? In the age of the reboot, it seems anything is possible.</p><p>UPDATE AUGUST 5, 2021: Six Flags Over Texas has announced the return of the Spees in 2022 with a new, updated attraction, <i>Pirates of Speelunker Cave.</i> In addition to the Spees, this ride appears to pay homage to the old Skull Island that once existed at the park.</p><p><br /></p></div>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-28196042476825784632021-06-04T06:25:00.000-07:002021-06-04T06:25:03.622-07:00The Mind Bender Man From Six Flags Over Georgia<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIFu3SDfs14/YLomJ4zCkOI/AAAAAAAAN1k/W2cEEMwVOnoVNOjLTWZU_mKDb3nMiiJpgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/MindBender.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIFu3SDfs14/YLomJ4zCkOI/AAAAAAAAN1k/W2cEEMwVOnoVNOjLTWZU_mKDb3nMiiJpgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/MindBender.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Back when I was building characters for the Six Flags Over Georgia Monster Plantation/Monster Mansion out of sea shells, I was posting pictures of them to a Six Flags Over Georgia Facebook page. As a result of this, I got a special request to make a replica of a statue of a character that used to be found in front of the Mind Bender roller coaster. Mind Bender is a famous looping steel roller coaster that opened at Six Flags in 1978. Part of the decor for the entrance to Mind Bender included a sculpture of a trippy, mind-bending man. Back at this time, Six Flags did not have the rights to any DC Comics characters. But when Batman finally rolled into Six Flags in the 1990s, the villainous Riddler clamed the Mind Bender roller coaster for his own.</p><p>This Mind Bender is made from a variety of shells that I found on beaches in Venice, Florida (and a bit of paint and glue).</p><p><br /></p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243478024385372739.post-89053089855032594582021-01-07T14:20:00.002-08:002021-01-18T10:54:24.765-08:00Goof Troop 1955<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GANwkPyJUI/YAXYKZtHE2I/AAAAAAAANwY/-8tFNHXajmEsyid6sojwZ4je8-UNpiF1ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop1955sculptures.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5GANwkPyJUI/YAXYKZtHE2I/AAAAAAAANwY/-8tFNHXajmEsyid6sojwZ4je8-UNpiF1ACLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/gooftroop1955sculptures.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>With reboots all the rage, I had an idea for <i>Goof Troop 1955</i>. The 1992 Disney animated TV series <i>Goof Troop </i>was itself something of a reboot. I decided to make sculptures of retro versions of Goofy Junior and Pete Junior, characters that got their start in Disney theatrical shorts when Walt Disney was alive.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPziNRIX-No/X_eEOc2g-tI/AAAAAAAANvQ/i0ukx9EGs8IEvQF7p737pXKy9W7yS5VMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop1955.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FPziNRIX-No/X_eEOc2g-tI/AAAAAAAANvQ/i0ukx9EGs8IEvQF7p737pXKy9W7yS5VMwCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h480/gooftroop1955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Cartoons featuring Goofy and his (offscreen) wife and son, Junior, were released in the fifties and sixties (such as 1951's <i>Fathers are People</i>).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpUB5OThjcA/X_iy5Tn99AI/AAAAAAAANvk/ZdxIpxnDAr4K8lRIhdC3XzFA-fFE-4V4gCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop551.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZpUB5OThjcA/X_iy5Tn99AI/AAAAAAAANvk/ZdxIpxnDAr4K8lRIhdC3XzFA-fFE-4V4gCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/gooftroop551.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Red-headed Goofy Junior was an antagonist in these cartoons, and not necessarily beloved by audiences. The same can be said for Pete Junior, who was a nasty brat in the 1942 Donald Duck cartoon, <i>Bellboy Donald</i>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZJ7JyMEL1Y/X_izGV_weEI/AAAAAAAANvo/O7oEO8waMnUomC7nPrRlIrds7aPcQMbMgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop555.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dZJ7JyMEL1Y/X_izGV_weEI/AAAAAAAANvo/O7oEO8waMnUomC7nPrRlIrds7aPcQMbMgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/gooftroop555.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>A lot of my inspiration for <i>Goof Troop 1955</i> was a home movie I recently watched of my Mom and her siblings as kids in 1955. My Uncle Jack, with his red hair, freckle face, and Superman T-Shirt, reminded me of Goofy Junior in the fifties.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9uEbsS2JuU/X_izTXBgncI/AAAAAAAANvw/aayPbuh9ioId5axKoapTXup2zcw9WuoLgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop554.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E9uEbsS2JuU/X_izTXBgncI/AAAAAAAANvw/aayPbuh9ioId5axKoapTXup2zcw9WuoLgCLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/gooftroop554.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Pete Junior's rebellious look was inspired by the 1953 Marlon Brando movie, <i>The Wild One</i>.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aMeWcvQXrI/X_iziPvLy9I/AAAAAAAANv4/npq4fmKp9A03NSG9Up_4pyTKVJ3nNQCQACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop556.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6aMeWcvQXrI/X_iziPvLy9I/AAAAAAAANv4/npq4fmKp9A03NSG9Up_4pyTKVJ3nNQCQACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/gooftroop556.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Muncey the dog was Pete's dog in the 1953 Donald Duck short, <i>The New Neighbor </i>(which also inspired Pete's look here).</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0IB4salkjU/X_izus8pgzI/AAAAAAAANwA/exJ4H8EaGcgeWJD1wu6qpnsWEiT9syW2ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop553.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w0IB4salkjU/X_izus8pgzI/AAAAAAAANwA/exJ4H8EaGcgeWJD1wu6qpnsWEiT9syW2ACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/gooftroop553.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Milton the cat was featured in a number of Disney shorts, including the 1951 Pluto cartoon, <i>Plutopia.</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVlpF7zSdQs/X_iz5UaYbDI/AAAAAAAANwE/QliXQN6-dRs9zfPXiYPV-8oQuB4LCcAjACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/gooftroop557.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iVlpF7zSdQs/X_iz5UaYbDI/AAAAAAAANwE/QliXQN6-dRs9zfPXiYPV-8oQuB4LCcAjACLcBGAsYHQ/w480-h640/gooftroop557.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p>Goofy's look here is a mix of his design in the Fifties and Disney comics from 1969 up to the early 1980s. That's because in these comics, Goofy had a love interest named Glory Bee. Glory Bee is a poodle-type character that really has a Pink Ladies look that fits in nicely in the fifties.</p>Dan Alexanderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14818108201214059180noreply@blogger.com0