We're at the end of the first month of the new year, and so begs the question... how are your resolutions? Or if not resolutions, your goals? Your promises to yourself? I know at the beginning of the year, we often feel like we can take on the world. But after a while, it starts to feel hard, or after not getting what we wanted fast enough, we start losing hope.
Well, I know for a fact that there's a VeggieTales episode for you -- Sumo of the Opera! I know this because I've energized myself many times by singing, "A Sumo Can't Go Wrong"! We all need to be reminded to persevere and keep on keepin' on, and this episode is one of the best reminders!
So, if you're having a case of the Mondays, feeling overwhelmed by work or school, or really don't want to attend that fitness class, here's a breakdown of the most epic training montage known to Veggie-kind to make you smile and get you pumped!
Image credit: my own DVD
Fueled by young Hadrian's drive and an awesome song by the sumo men's choir, Scallion goes from quitting to keeping his eye on the tiger, both metaphorically and literally!
(C'mon, there's not one of you out there who doesn't want that tiger bike...)
Image credit: my own DVD
Then that rock music kicks in and Scallion's takin' it to the escalators! Look at that determination on his face... he's got his head in the game as he scales that metal mountain!
Image credit: my own DVD
Sit-ups. Not fun, but a necessary part of his journey. Also, major props to the fact he's doing this without arms or legs.
Image credit: my own DVD
Can Scallion do it? Yes he can! Sorry.
Image credit: my own DVD
Just look at him... takin' it like a champ! Some days we hit the recycling bag, and some days the recycling bag hits us. What matters is getting up again!
Image credit: my own DVD
He does some more sit-ups, more can crushing, and then... something epic happens. He blows a massive recycling bag up! #Winning
Image credit: my own DVD
And look at him eat that sushi! AND the "all you can eat" sign! Now that is perseverance, 'cause I'm not sure people who like sushi could stand eating that much at once -- not even sumo wrestlers who like sushi could eat that much!
(If you're a sumo wrestler who likes sushi and could eat this much, feel free to correct me)
Image credit: my own DVD
Watch him own those cans! Scallion is a serious boss!
Image credit: my own DVD
His skills with the mop make us green with envy... and maybe with motion sickness, too...
Image credit: my own DVD
And when we succeed and come out victorious... no feeling could be greater! :D
Image credit: my own DVD
So, whatever you're fighting, whatever you're working for, don't give up and don't lose hope. Because however it ends, you're a winner in God's eyes. And that's a feeling as welcome as flowers that bloom in the spring!
For a show whose target audience (for the most part) was not born when disco was a thing, VeggieTales has had the 70s dance element in many of their episodes and songs -- even right down to the Bob & Larry Sing the 70s album! And being a girl with a penchant for oldies, I love that they keep that disco beat going -- all the way to now, as Celery Night Fever is less than a week away from arriving on the dance floor!
So, in anticipation, I thought it'd be fun to take a look back on some of VT's grooviest "gourds" of the dance. And that's far from difficult, considering the veggies have been dancing since the day Larry first stepped out with his tuba :) I've selected and ranked ten of the all-time best dancers in the VT world for your enjoyment! Let's get our groove on, shall we?
(Note: I highly recommend listening to the Bob & Larry Sing The 70's while you're reading this)
#10: Barbara Manatee
Image credit: my own DVD.
For an aquatic mammal without legs (not to mention a plushie), Barbara moves like magic when she does the tango with Larry. And if you've seen the live show where they have a guy and girl do the tango in costume, you know she gets extra cool points for that number :)
#9: Gary, Greg, and Bruce, The Ducklings
Image credit: my own DVD.
Take notes, friends: these are ducklings doing a little barbershop song-and-dance here. These adorable little guys deserve major cred for their moves! But perhaps we should give that credit to Gelato... their Dad taught them well!
#8: The Scallions
Image credit: my own DVD.
These guys just have an awesome group dynamic in their dances. I love their rhythm and groove in "Oh No!" and their rap moves in the "Salesmunz Rap"! Swindlers and bad guys they may be, but they definitely got the moves.
#7: Dad Rock Monster
Image credit: my own DVD.
If you're going to have a song about you, being an awesome dancer is kinda mandatory. The Dad Rock Monster had no problem with that! He's amazingly flexible for a guy made of rocks. All his moves in this music video well... rock! #TerriblePuns
#6: Junior Asparagus
Image credit: my own DVD.
Among other awesome dances, he can tap dance without having feet. That's what I call skills...
#5: Awful Alvin
Image credit: my own DVD.
Not including Alvin would be completely wrong. Being able to use one's roots as arms and legs make dancing even easier to do when you're a veggie, and he definitely makes good use of those limbs! Alvin's "Villainous Dance of Villainy" is some kinda funky -- and when Lampy joins in, they just "shimmy with badness!"
#4: Jean-Claude & Philippe
Image credit: my own DVD.
These two might not be the first characters to come to your mind when you think of VT's best dancers, but they do have their own segment, "The Latest Dance Craze with Jean-Claude and Philippe." The fact that these two are already on the pulse of what's popular says something. Not to mention that they're basically heads -- it takes an awful lot of skill to dance without arms, legs, or much of a body! If "The Hopperena" isn't enough proof, just watch them on "Keep Walking" or "Steak and Shrimp"; these two put us limbed beings to shame!
#3: Khalil
Image credit: my own DVD.
Khalil is a caterpillar-worm of many talents. Rug salesman, rapper, dead ringer for Don Knotts, skilled metalworker. But his motivation tapes should've also said something among the lines of, "You are a great dancer," because that he is!
#2: Jimmy Gourd/Dr. Jiggle/Mr. Sly
Image credit: my own DVD.
It would be a crime not to mention the star of Dr. Jiggle and Mr. Sly in this lineup! Jimmy's got groove, peeps. And while we love Dr. Jiggle for who he is, we must applaud the fact he's doing that dance in an spleen-bruising leisure suit. Off the show, he's still a legit disco veggie, as he's the host of the roller rink party on the 70s album and the main vocals on "Funky Town." What can we say? Gourds just wanna have fun! (Wrong era, I know... but the 80s album's awesome too!)
#1: Larry The Cucumber
Image credit: my own DVD.
It was hard to pick the #1 dancer, but Larry was kind of the only one who can hold this spot. He's like butter on a bald monkey -- all the vegetables wish to dance as he! And he's been doing it since the beginning! I believe that the #1 spot belongs to the master of silliness, Larry the Cucumber himself!
So, what do you think? Who do you think should've taken the top spot? How would you've ranked them?
Anyway, if these dancing veggies haven't gotten you excited yet, here's the trailer for Celery Night Fever to help you get in a groovy mood!
So, it's common knowledge that Veggies in Space was an incredibly awesome episode of VT -- no surprise there :) Excitement! Laughs! So many sci-fi references I can't count them all! And on top of that, a fresh, fun look at sharing and generosity!
But if you're fairly new to VT, you may not know that The Fennel Frontier was hardly their first voyage into the sci-fi genre; the veggies have been taking it to the galaxy for some time now, in both actual space travel and in science fiction references.
So, I've gone through my VT DVDs so we can take a look back on what you could call the VeggieTales space race. We begin a long time ago in a small animation company far, far away...
The Gourds Must Be Crazy (1995)
Image credit: my own DVD.
Yes, that's what the original U.S.S. Applepies looked like. And it still is an impressive feat of CG considering it was the third-ever VT episode.
In this episode, Junior and the crew learned to look past superficial perceptions of others when two "crazy" gourds saved the ship from a killer popcorn meteor. Not only did those gourds go on to become a permanent part of the VT troupe, we seriously would not have Scooter the Carrot if this awesome episode never came to be -- he was our Scotty!
Perhaps one of the coolest things to me about this episode (aside from the iconic tune, "I Can Be Your Friend") is that is subtly ties into Veggies in Space. Though that connection begs a question; we know that Scooter retired from the Applepies, where are Jimmy and Jerry working now? Well, either at the Bumblyburg Science Labs, modeling pants on the Veggie Shopping Network, or exploring planets like at the beginning of Veggies in Space.
Either way, the Applepies crew owes their lives to those two who got "Meet Me At St. Louis" stuck in our heads :)
Larry-Boy And The Fib From Outer Space! (1997)
Image credit: my own DVD.
Considering their science knowledge doesn't expand far past metabolism, why would these two be working at the Bumblyburg Science Labs?
"Because we wanted to see space aliens!"
This is pretty clear since Jerry is wearing Spock ears. I have to say, I have mad respect for anyone who wears merch to a science lab! I hope Jerry's not too upset for me posting this for all the internet to see, though. Be proud of your nerdiness, Jerry!
LarryBoy Super Shorts: Fly By Might (2002)
Image credit: my own DVD.
This GIF says it all (and boy, was it hard to make!) The Cucumber of Steel had dealt with that pesky fly for the last time. Apparently, his plungers have their own TIE Fighter-like targeting system. It's hard not to look at this and say, "I have you now" in Darth Vader's voice!
Unfortunately, LarryBoy didn't win this battle. The fly evidently had Force powers of his own!
Lutfi's Fanciful Flannelgraph: The Story Of St. Patrick (2004)
Image credit: my own DVD.
"Now Ireland was the land of the Druids, and the people there spoke a different language. But we'll make believe that everyone spoke English, like Star Trek."
"Even the pigs?"
"No, not the pigs."
"OK." XD
Bully Trouble (2005)
Image credit: my own DVD.
This hilariously classic short episode isn't really parodying anything as far as I can tell. But pure, original space craziness is just as good as hilarious sci-fi nods. Anyone else sometimes quote Junior Spaceman's computer when making toast?
"You are toast. You are warm bread cut at a diagonal that is subsequently spread with butter or jam."
And anyone else curious about Junior's space gizmo? I bet it's capable of more than just inflating enemies...
The Wonderful Wizard Of Ha's (2007)
Image credit: my own DVD.
You might think that this episode would be the least likely to include a sci-fi reference, but just like the enchanted poppies in the original film, a good Star Wars quote is hard to resist!
When distracted by a field of puppies (and rightfully so, those little guys are adorable!), Scarecrow urges them to, "Stay on target, stay on target...", which may sounds familiar to those who recall the Battle of Yavin at the end of Star Wars Episode IV. It's very subtle, but it's so great! The Star Wars-nerdy side of me can't get over it!
Princess And The Popstar (2011)
Image credit: my own DVD.
In space, you never know what you might encounter. Mutant aliens, kissing aliens, robo-pogos gone crazy! Having a communicator is vital, even if it happens to be your sister's peaPod (yes, that's what they're called).
"I'm sensing a lifeform... I hope it's friendly-- AHH MUTANT ALIEN!!"
I think I'm going to need to write a Pepper appreciation blog sometime, but that's not important now. What's important is, don't leave home without your peaPod!
The Little Drummer Boy (2011)
Image credit: my own DVD.
VeggieTales and Star Wars are two of my most favorite things, so upon on my first viewing of this episode, I was half geeking out and half giggling to see such a boldly silly Star Wars gag!
"CUKE SKYWALKER!"
"That's 'Magi' not 'Jedi'!"
*Gestures to camel wearing landspeeder-esque ship* "Can I still keep my sandspeeder?"
"Probably not."
*Holds fork* "May the fork be with you?"
"PLEASE STOP."
The way Archibald says that bit at the end... I can't watch this scene without laughing!
"Floating" Short (2014)
This little gem of animation that is strangely absent from the Veggies in Space DVD is very clearly a nod to Gravity, and you don't need to have seen it to know!
I love that dramatic narration at the beginning... gravity is indeed a harsh reality!
Veggies In Space: The Fennel Frontier (2014)
Image credit: my own DVD.
I literally can't name all the references in this one -- and not just because I'm not as heavily-versed in science fiction as I ought to be. But that's just part of the reason it's a fantastic episode!
On top of all the fun sci-fi nods, they put so so much beautiful, fun detail into this one with all the new robots, aliens, ships, and a whole planet! (Anybody else realize that Tootanny is almost Star Wars' "Tatooine" in reverse?) But in case you haven't seen it yet, I won't go and spoil anything else for you... you'll just have to take my word for it! :) If only they'd made an audio commentary for this one...
So, there you have it: more reasons to admire Big Idea's endless creativity! Anyone craving some M&Ns and pudding? Um... you got any to share?
