2 years living with Roger Rabbit

2 years have passed since I got my first Roger Rabbit doll, which is featured above. I brought him to home in January 25th, 2007: exactly two years ago. Remember how much I played with him that day, and took a lot of pictures of me holding him, like this one:

Since that day, Roger became my little partner. I take him out every saturday (carrying him in my case), and I just love how people comes to me and ask me several questions about how I got him, and where they can find their own Roger Rabbit dolls. But what I like the most is when little kids come to me and hold Roger’s hands or nose, while smiling. He also became one of my close confidents, since he knows several secrets about me and my personal life. Maybe he can’t speak (at least, not like my talking Roger Rabbit dolls), but sure he can hear me while I talk with him for hours and hours. I’ve had some issues with him (most of them because my erratic behaviour) but Roger has a heart of gold and he’s always smiling at me, even in the worst situations. He’s a great listener, a great forgiver, but also a great friend and partner. I prefer to let aside those hard moments I had with him, and stay with all the nice experiences we had together.

Maybe you could think I’m a little insane for treating him as a real being, which is kinda true. But even when he’s really a stuffed doll in the shape of a famous rabbit cartoon, I enjoy having him close to me since he represents many of the things I want to achieve in my life, and he’s also one of my biggest inspirations. I really love Roger Rabbit, and hope I can stay with him for a very long time.

Aren’t you agree with me, little partner? =3

Con el cariño de siempre…

He’s the Osito Bimbo (Bimbo Bear) and he’s the corporate mascot of  Bimbo: one of the largest food companies around the world, founded in Mexico 64 years ago.

Some time ago, it was customary for them to give little plush bears in the shape of their mascot, in exchange for some Bimbo bread wrappings plus a small amount of money. This one has at least 10 years old, maybe 15 (I don’t recall exactly). They still have neat promos but nothing like giving little plush Bimbo bears like they used to. If you are lucky enough to find one of those old bears, they are in pretty bad condition for being played with several times, or they lack some pieces like the little bread loaf, the apron or the hat.

This little bear is in excellent condition, which is amazing considering the age. The last time I saw one of those for sale, he went up to $50 dollars, and this one costed me just a dollar and half!! Pretty neat, huh?

Bolt

Some weeks ago I watched the newest animated feature from Disney: Bolt. And I must say I was very pleased at the end of the movie. It’s a really sweet and funny movie, maybe it’s not Pixar caliber, but it’s still good on its own.

The characters have a lot of charisma and it’s impossible not falling in love with Bolt, Mittens, Rhino or Penny; maybe there’s a couple of them that are just playing their roles without adding anything else to the story (for example, Rhino the hyperactive Bolt fanboy and the pigeons that can’t figure who Bolt really is) but as a whole they work together very well.

As every Disney movie, Bolt has a lot of messages about friendship, believing in ourselves and keep going even if things are against us, and the moral of the story kinda ruins the ending of the movie since it’s a little too sugary and sweet. But the action sequences -in which Bolt don’t realizes he’s just playing a character in a TV show- are frantic and awesome. And some of the gags are funny as hell (fortunately, there isn't a gag abuse as in many other recent Disney features, and they help to keep the story running).

If you haven’t seen Bolt yet, you can still try to catch it at your local cinema, or wait for the DVD release until April. If you decide to wait for the DVD and you’re living in Mexico, then go to your nearest Blockbuster Video store, because they’re giving cute little Bolt plush keychains with every preorder (you can secure your copy of Bolt with just $60 pesos, less than $6 dollars):

Don’t get fooled by the pictures: it’s somewhat huge for a keychain ;)

Boo

She’s the reason I always got myself in tears while watching Monsters Inc. Boo is a really cute, hyperactive and cheerful little toddler and how she and Sulley get along in such a close way makes me think Sulley cares about her like as a little girl of his own.

At the very end of the movie, when Mike gathered all the small chips from Boo’s closet door, and just needed the big chunk Sulley had with him for making it work, I always get that funny sensation on my eyes. But when Sulley pokes out of the door, and Boo recognizes him, I can’t help but cry. That’s the most touching moment in the entire movie, and makes you wonder about how many times Boo and Sulley got in touch after all those adventures they had. Many fanfictions have been written about this particular matter, but I think reading them maybe could kill my own guesses and driving me in another direction.

For that reason, I prefer thinking about them just as they are. In a timeless space, where Boo will be the same little toddler I love, and where Sulley will still care about Boo as “her little daughter”.

Sweet dreams, little Boo =3

More bunny slippers =3

My bunny slippers absolutely ROCK! In fact, they are so great, cute and comfy that I decided to buy more spare pairs, just in case:

Those are all the colors available, and I particularly like the orange ones because the color combination, but all of them are really kawaii and I can’t wait to slip my feet in them =3

Fortunately, I got some of the last adult pairs since the ones that are left are just small sizes, like for little kids and young ladies. Yes, I know it’s weird buying footwear that’s more appropriate for ladies, and it’s even weirder wearing it, but I just love bunnies and having my feet warm, and I won’t be able to buy them until next year since spring is coming around the corner, and sandals are already in the shelves :)

P.S. I’m publishing this entry with Windows Live Writer =D

Transformers + Mickey Mouse = WIN?

Apparently, people at Tomy (part of Takara Co. Ltd.) watched a lot of classic Disney Mickey Mouse cartoons lately XD

Yes folks: this toy is real. And it will be on the shelves in less than a month:

Transformers Disney Label Mickey Mouse (Completed)

This would be one of those things you love it or hate it. If you ask me, well... I first laughed at the pictures and then I said to myself: "Gosh, this is so cool! I gotta have it!"

Now I'd like to read some comments from the hardcore Transformers fans =3

Source: Anim-Arte.com

Jeepers! That's a runner rabbit!!

In my daily search of Roger Rabbit related news, sometimes I stumble upon very interesting stories that are in some way linked to the rabbit. This story is one of them:

MBE for marathon running 'rabbit'

I can't imagine running a full marathon dressed as Roger Rabbit, all fur and ears. But this man from England just did it every year, just for raising funds for Leukaemia research. Because that, he was honored by British Monarchy giving him the title of Member of the British Empire.

How did he got the idea of running as Roger Rabbit is unknown to me. The important thing is that he dressed as Roger for doing some charitable work, not only achieving a honorary title but also giving hope to people that has a strong will to keep living despite being ill.

Everything thanks to "the rabbit", as he says.

Everything began with a rabbit

It's incredible how is this blog mainly related to Roger Rabbit, and I haven't written a proper article about him, his movie or his friends.

Well, maybe I should start from the beginning.

How this started?

Let's go into the past, exactly 20 years ago. I was 8 at the time, and was a very playful and imaginative kid, with some bad temper and a handful of friends, but not close friends. In fact, my imagination was my best friend. I wasn't the kind of kid that creates imaginary friends (eventually I had them -sorta- in my teen years), but instead I lived in my own world where everything was under my control. Thanks to my erratic behaviour and my short temper, I lost some of my friends and was bullied all the time. Somedays, I felt really alone. Like if nobody understood me, or cared to.

I found my escape valve in two things: my imagination, and cartoons.

So, when I knew that Disney (better said, Touchstone) was preparing the premiere of a odd, unusual movie involving cartoons living in a real world with real people, I got really interested. There was a program that was broadcasted every sunday evening, with little animated shorts, some movie features and trailers from the upcoming movies. And one of those trailers was the one from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit". I don't know exactly why, but Roger Rabbit got my full attention since I saw him. His wacky antics and how he interacted with Eddie Valiant and the real world were like a revelation to me. I wanted so madly to watch the movie, and I saw that trailer every single time it was played on TV, until I started to learn the dialogs between characters.

Finally, I went to movie theater (by the way: it still exists, but now is a performing arts theater). I ENJOYED EVERY PART OF THE MOVIE. I was really pleased to see how my favorite classic cartoons were living among us humans, in our world. I got really surprised when I saw Daffy and Donald playing the piano in the same space, and how Bugs and Mickey Mouse were having a discussion about giving Eddie a "spare" in his free fall. But what I loved the most was certainly Roger Rabbit. Oh boy, that bunny is like a rollercoaster of emotions and disaster coming to your face! I laughed lots with him. I felt worried for him when he was hanging on the rope with his wife Jessica, and they were about to get "dipped". I felt the same emotions he was feeling in certain moments, and I really had a great time watching his wacky antics.

Months later, I saw the movie on VHS and enjoyed it even more, maybe because I could rewind it for playing my favorite parts, and I could watch it as many times as possible. I was still in love with Roger, and he became one of my favorite characters (of course, among Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, and some others from a couple of japanese animated features and saturday morning cartoons).

However, I grew up and moved up to other things. I was becoming a teenager, and I needed to find something more suitable for my entertainment, since I began to consider Roger's movie as childish (ironically, I enjoyed Space Jam --a movie that hasn't aged too well, IMHO). I went into japanese anime, and ignored almost all american cartoons (excepting maybe Batman: The Animated Series, Animaniacs, Tiny Toons, Freakazoid, Biker Mice from Mars and Pinky and the Brain, among others in the same line). Forgot about Roger and how much he meant to me, because I was very busy doing fanarts of my favorite anime shows like Sailormoon, Dragonball Z, Card Captor Sakura, and else.

Some years ago, I got tired of japanese animation. Every single show that started to watch, reminded me to an older show. This turned to be a frequent issue, so I declined to watch more anime. Instead, I went back into cartoons... But felt like if still needed something else. Something that wasn't there.

The date: early days of January 2007. The hour: 7:00 P.M. I was doing some zapping, until I got into Disney Channel just in time. They were to play their evening daily feature, and I decided to wait for knowing if that movie will get my interest, or was one of those features I watched lately. Then, when I saw Touchstone Pictures logo on TV, I knew something was going on. But when I saw the intro title, I got in shock: it was "Who Framed Roger Rabbit"!! I wanted so madly to watch that movie again!!

For a couple of hours (with commercials, of course), I felt like that little kid that enjoyed watching a wacky rabbit doing anything for a smile. I went back into my childhood.

And after the movie finished, I knew I HAD TO HAD MY OWN ROGER RABBIT DOLL.


A week later, I got him. Then I got another, and another, and the DVD, and another rabbit, and the official comic (in readable shape), and another rabbit, and some figurines, and another rabbit...

Like as when I was a kid, I fell in love with Roger Rabbit. But this time, I took this a little more seriously XD

Almost two years had passed since that day. And I still love Roger, and I will keep loving him. Because he was part of my troubled childhood, and because he returned to my adult life for bringing me a huge smile. And, of course, because he rocks!!

I love you, Roger Rabbit. I really, really love you <3

Roger Rabbit in my car

Or better said, inside my car.

This little knockoff Roger Rabbit doll got his new suction cups yesterday, and I put him inside my Dodge Neon, for saluting the other drivers and pedestrians while rolling on the streets =3

Finally, my bunny slippers!! (Well... Sort of)

I wanted a pair of bunny slippers so madly, that I begun developing a rather odd obsession about them. When I got the chance of buying them, I was low on cash. When I had the bucks, then I couldn't find them.

But finally, I got my warm and cuddly bunny slippers (well, sort of since they have little plush bunnies attached to them) and now I'm very very happy =3

Nesquik Bunny

I really like rabbits. Roger Rabbit is the #1 on my list, but I also love Bugs Bunny, Buster and Babs Bunny (no relation), Schnuffel (that cute rabbit that sings the "Kuschel Song", also known as "Snuggle Song"), Thumper and quite some other rabbits.

Of course, Nesquik Bunny (also known as Quicky) is one of them.

You can't find Nesquik plushies easily, which is quite surprising since he's a well known character and endorses a top-seller product. This one is a little worn, but still has a nice shape so I decided to pick it up for my ever growing collection.

Knockoff Rabbit

Roger Rabbit merchandise is always hard to find. But, believe it or not, Roger Rabbit knockoff merchandise is even harder to find!!

Last sunday I came home with this little cutie. There is no way you can mistake this one with an original Roger Rabbit doll (even its eyes are poorly done) but it's cute in its own way. This "Roger" doll is in good shape, but the suction cups in hands and feet are worn out. Probably I get some ones next weekend, since I want to get this little rabbit into my car, hanging on the rear window =3

Cartoon Network 2009 Calendar

Today I went back to work. I'm a graphic designer in a small advertising agency in Guadalajara (Mexico) and one of our clients is the biggest cable TV company in our country. It has a website mainly focused to children and tweens, and I design most of the stuff that's available for download on there. Also I design most of the contests that are featured on the site in a monthly basis, with awesome prizes in all of them (mainly videogame consoles and cool gadgets).

This morning I got a very useful and neat 2009 calendar from Cartoon Network. It features some characters I really like (Chowder, the Powerpuff Girls, Flapjack, Ben from Ben10, Billy from The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy), and you can write things on it with soft markers since it's plastified.

By the way, it says "Hacemos lo que queremos" (We do what we want, in spanish), which is the current campaign the network is running in Latin America.

Hello World!

Hello, and welcome to Toontown Antics!

As you can notice, this blog will be mainly devoted to one of the greatest bunnies in animated world: Roger Rabbit, as well to his fellow friends. Also, it will feature the newest items on my "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" and my other miscellaneous collections (there's a lot of character plushies on my room, hehe), some of my impressions about the newest animated features (both small and big screen), and some antics and tidbits from my personal life (hence the name "Toontown Antics").

Feel free to comment and share your points of view with everyone! I'll be reading all your comments but p-p-p-p-please, be polite and have fun!!