Cartoon Sunday: David Firth's A Day In Hell

How's it going lurkers? Several hours after publishing and sharing yesterday's Song Saturday blog, I learned that Adam West died from leukemia at the age of 88. If you would like to learn more about the ORIGINAL Batman and the late voice actor of Family Guy's Mayor West, The Hollywood Reporter published an article at the following:

The Hollywood Reporter: Adam West, Straight-Faced Star of TV's 'Batman,' Dies at 88

RIP ADAM WEST!!! He will truly be missed by many generations of his Batman fans, including yours truly.

Aside from the tragic news about the late Adam West, Japan Pop Culture HQ shared a link on their Google Plus page regarding the Live Action Movie for Tokyo Ghoul on Friday.

Japan Pop Culture HQ is late to sharing this news around social media. However, you can still read about Tokyo Ghoul's Live Action Movie on Anime News Network, in the link below.

Anime News Network: Live-Action Tokyo Ghoul Film Reveals English Poster, Worldwide Streaming of Launch Event

Meanwhile, some of my long-time subscribers should recall, that I published a Cartoon Sunday blog last May featuring 2 highly graphic and disturbing Stop Motion Animated Shorts by David Firth and Adam Rosenberg.

David Firth's "Crooked (Orcus) Rot" and Adam Rosenberg's "Manny" were very similar to each other. In case you missed this particular Cartoon Sunday blog last May, it is HERE for your viewing pleasure.

Today I am sharing another disturbing Stop Motion Animated Short by David Firth. In fact, this short precedes his 2008 short, "Crooked (Orcus) Rot." "A Day In Hell" was created by Firth in 2003.

Watching these shorts by the animator continues to be abstract and graphic filled with WTF? Moments. 

If you have ZERO interest in highly graphic and abstract art, chances are highly great, that David Firth's Stop Motion Animated Shorts will be of no interest to you.

Firth's animation is filled with disturbing and highly graphic images. His work is THAT disturbing. 

Now, some may argue that David Firth's Stop Motion Animated Shorts are more like watching "Gore Porn," since his shorts can be extremely bloody and violent much like a Splatterpunk Horror film.

You may be asking, "Huh? What is Splatterpunk?" If you need a better understanding of the term, Splatterpunk, here is a vlog by The Audiopedia explaining about the Horror sub-genre.

The Audiopedia: What Is SPLATTERPUNK? What Does SPLATTERPUNK Mean? SPLATTERPUNK Meaning, Definition, & Explanation (2017)

After watching the preceding video by The Audiopedia, I am starting to believe that 1 of my 3 more recent Short Horror Stories, "The Horrors Of Womanhood," qualifies as being a Splatterpunk Horror Story.

As you watch "A Day In Hell," you will quickly notice there are some elements of Splatterpunk Horror incorporated into this Stop Motion Animated Short. With that being said, here is David Firth's "Hell" for today's Cartoon Sunday.

David Firth "A Day In Hell" (2003)

Cartoon Sunday: David Romero's Other Lily

How's it going lurkers? Do you want to see more Animated Horror Shorts, that are under, over, or about 5 minutes long in my Cartoon Sunday blogs? Let me know in the comments section below today's blog.

I cannot speak for everyone else as far as today's weather forecast goes, but it has been storming like crazy here in Wisconsin lately. 

In fact, it was just storming earlier this morning, when I was trying to re-watch Naruto Shippuden in English.

Whether you are reading a story or watching something on TV, video, or online, there is something about thunderstorms that stimulate eerie feelings. Thunderstorms can also be eerie in real life. 

There is a lot that can go wrong, during a storm. In David Romero's Animated Horror Short, "Other Lily," the thunderstorm helps set an eerie yet ominous tone.

On a dark and stormy night (The setting sounds cliche, but it works for Horror), Lily receives a text message from her father. He reminds Lily to make sure her younger sister, Beth goes to bed before 10 pm. 

As Lily walks up the stairs to check on Beth, Lily notices a picture that was drawn by her younger sister. Beth drew herself, Lily, and another Lily in the picture. In the picture, Beth refers to her as "Other Lily."

"Other Lily" looks quite sinister in Beth's illustration. It makes me want to call "Other Lily" "Evil Lily" because she looks creepy as well as evil. Eventually, Beth's older sister, Lily goes to bed. 

As a side note, Lily suffers from sleep paralysis, which may have horrific implications in her waking life.  

In case you don't know about sleep paralysis, it can cause frightening hallucinations and nightmares. To learn more about sleep paralysis, you can read about it HERE.

So... while Lily sleeps, she dreams of the "Other Lily" opening her bedroom window and crawling around on her ceiling, waiting to attack her. 

Before the "Other Lily" could attack her, Lily awakes from her nightmare. Suddenly, Lily hears loud crashing noises from downstairs. 

Watching this short by David Romero will shock you. "Other Lily" without a doubt has its share of WTF?! Moments towards the end of it. The ending especially feels like a disturbing cliffhanger.

I did not explain "Other Lily" in its entirety on purpose.

How much fun would it be, if I spoiled EVERYTHING for my lurkers and subscribers?

It would completely defeat the purpose of me sharing this disturbing short. Some things are better left to the imagination. If you would like to know what happens next, you will have to watch "Other Lily" for today's Cartoon Sunday.

David Romero: "Other Lily" (2015)

Song Saturday: Static-X [REVISITED]

How's it going lurkers? Earlier this week, I was on the latest makeshift version of Adult Swim's forum and a so-called Static-X fan "triggered" me. 

Yes, you know that highly abused word, "triggered"? Well, this guy actually triggered me.

This so-called "fan" posted a thread asking if anyone remembered the Industrial Metal band, Static-X. Because I actually WAS a fan, since the band's debut in 1998, I opened the thread.

In this Static-X "fan's" thread, he said "It sucks that he committed suicide." Reading his post made me do a double take. In the back of my mind, I was screaming, "OMG! Are you fucking serious?!"

I waited for other supposed Static-X fans to correct him. Because no one did, I posted in his Static-X thread and let him know, that Wayne Static did NOT  commit suicide. 

If he was a real fan, he would've known that Wayne Static died of a drug overdose about 3 years ago.

Wayne died 3 days before his 49th birthday in his sleep because he mixed strong prescriptions such as Hydromorphone, Oxycodone, Alprazolam, and painkillers with alcohol.

Wayne Static's porn star wife, Tera Wray, on the other hand, DID commit suicide. Tera committed suicide on January 13, 2016 at her friend and roommate's house.

Supposedly, Tera Wray left a suicide note telling her friend, Jay'e Jones to call her mother, attorney, and several other people. When I originally learned about Tera's suicide, sources claimed she was depressed about Wayne Static's death.

The more I think about it, I am suspecting an inside job because Tera was NOT  well liked by Static-X, Wayne's family, OR his friends. She got into more arguments with them after he died.

To clarify the causes of both Wayne Static and Tera Wray's deaths (couple seen above), Wayne died in his sleep from a drug overdose and Tera supposedly committed suicide.

Not to sound like some crazed, elitist, Static-X fangirl or anything, but I am easily annoyed by those, who want to act like they are such "fans" of certain celebrities. All the while, those same "fans" are misinformed about everything.

You probably think I am overreacting, but posers annoy the hell out of me.

This is especially when there are real fans like yours truly, who know the history of certain bands and were there to experience and be a part of the history. 

Like I already said in the past, I was 16 when Static-X debuted and they were featured on the Bride Of Chucky Soundtrack in 1998.

Since today's Song Saturday blog is another blog discussing Static-X, and because I recently updated previous Static-X blogs, I thought I would share those same blogs with viewers, who missed them 3 years ago.

Wayne Static/Static-X Tribute Part 1 (2014)

Song Saturday: Wayne Static/Static-X Tribute Part 2 (2014)

RANT: Toonami's One Piece Fandom & Their Incessant Crying

How's it going lurkers? I have been trying to decide what to share for the next 2 Cartoon Sunday blogs.

Would you like it if I shared more Animated Horror Shorts under 5 minutes long, OR would you prefer to watch something 5 minutes or longer?

Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Aside from the next 2 Cartoon Sunday blogs, those of you, who have been subscribed to yours truly for the last several years on Xanga, Blogster, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, etc. have read my complaints about Toonami, its fanbases, and fandoms. 

Recently, I stumbled upon a blog by The Beacon explaining the differences between a fandom and a fanbase. I never really knew there was a difference. 

I always thought fanbase and fandom were used interchangeably. Apparently, that's not the case. Welp, you learn something new everyday.

According to The Beacon, a fanbase is simply a group of like-minded people, who share the same interests and show their pride as fans. Meanwhile, a fandom is more like a gatekeeping group of zealots for fans. 

In other words, EXTREMISTS that tend to alienate and can sometimes shun fellow fans if they don't share their views about certain characters, movies, shows, music, etc. with their EXTREME dedication, passion, and views.

Judging by the preceding explanation, fandoms might as well be considered loudmouth "activists" because they are extremely vocal about being an obnoxious fan. This can most definitely be said about some Toonami fans in general.

I CANNOT  help reiterating how much of obnoxious brats Toonami fans can be. 

Yes, I know that every Toonami fan is NOT  a crybaby. However, the crybabies overshadow the fans, who genuinely enjoy other types of Action Anime as well as other genres and sub-genres.

Every time a certain Action Anime fandom does not get their way about an Anime, they will act like the BIGGEST  toddlers on forums and social media sites. Otherwise, they will maliciously mock other fanbases because they didn't get their way about a series.

Some One Piece zealots are currently throwing toddler tantrums because Adult Swim's Toonami block is airing the Seinen Horror Action Anime, Tokyo Ghoul as One Piece's replacement. One Piece fans DO have a right to be upset.

Since the time Toonami chose to premiere this Shonen Jump Action Anime at episode 207 in 2013 rather than premiere it at episode 1 like most normal shows, One Piece fans got the shaft.

Premiering an Action Anime at episode 207 rather than the beginning only demonstrated, that those running this revival of Toonami have no respect for One Piece fans. Therefore, I can understand their anger and feel they are justified in feeling angry at both Adult Swim and The Toonami Teams. 

Toonami did a TERRIBLE job of handling their programming, One Piece fans, and de-escalating their toddler tantrums. 

Even though I can sympathize and empathize with One Piece fans, it does NOT give their fandom the right to maliciously mock other fanbases.

Currently, there are some EXTREMELY bitter fans within the One Piece fandom maliciously mocking us Tokyo Ghoul fans, while crying in their Monkey D. Luffy boxer shorts over Toonami replacing One Piece with Tokyo Ghoul.

Some are purposely alleging that Tokyo Ghoul is a terrible Anime, that it "glorifies cannibalism," it's intentionally "edgy" to panders to Emos and Goths, that Toonami dislikes Tokyo Ghoul because they haven't created newer promos for it, etc.

About a month or 2 ago, those within the One Piece fandom on the current makeshift forum for Adult Swim worked my last nerve so badly, I gave some of them a piece of my mind. 

So, what did I tell those bitter incels within Toonami's One Piece fandom on the makeshift forum for Adult Swim?

1) They are NOT  the only viewers watching Adult Swim

2) Those running Toonami are TRYING to attract different types of viewers by adding a Seinen Horror Action Anime like Tokyo Ghoul, for example, to the block

3) They whine TOO MUCH about EVERY little thing

4) If they depend on a show's ratings to simply like a show, they would NEVER enjoy anything 

5) Their constant nitpicking repulses other viewers like yours truly from wanting to watch other Anime premiering on the Toonami block.

Was it NOT  bad enough, that Toonami zealots spent YEARS bawling their eyes out all over the Internet about Cartoon Network canceling Toonami in 2008?

After canceling Toonami ~9 years ago, Cartoon Network's programming went to hell in a hand basket. It started premiering more boy-centric reality shows, low-brow animation, and mostly vapid cartoons from Canada. The ONLY Canadian cartoon I enjoyed watching was 6teen.

Had 6teen premiered in its entirety on Cartoon Network, it could've been aired at an earlier time on Adult Swim. Some of 6teen's episodes had nudity and other mature content, which was meant for supposedly teenagers in Canada.

Here in the good old U.S. of A. helicopter parents would've been outraged by some of 6teen's content because Cartoon Network is meant for children, whereas Adult Swim is meant for adults.

Since Cartoon Network no longer wanted the Toonami block, they dumped it on Adult Swim. 

Originally, Adult Swim was supposed to be airing more mature content because all those children, who grew up watching Toonami, in the late 1990's and early 21st Century, are now ADULTS.

The Toonami  Team claimed they wanted to grow up its veteran viewers. 

If they wanted to supposedly grow up their veteran viewers so badly, why is Toonami premiering the most childish-looking and cartoonishly generic Japanese animation on a network, which was meant for adult viewers, mainly men? How much longer until a Kodomo Anime like Pokemon is premiering on Adult Swim?

Here is something I have recently noticed about the veteran Toonami fans. They hate Anime meant for their own age group. That being Action Anime meant for adults and Anime with more MATURE subject matters. This makes me question how many ADULTS are actually watching this version of Adult Swim's Toonami block.

Judging from what I have observed over these last 5 years, veteran Toonami fans are too fixated on their childhood nostalgia and cartoon ratings. They depend on cartoon ratings (which CAN be rigged like polls and awards for awards shows and voting).

In addition, these zealots DEPEND on a patronizing CGI robot and his talking computer to get excited about watching their favorite cartoons! This is something you would expect from a damn 5-year-old, NOT someone who is in his/her 20's and 30's (Dare I even say 40's and older?)

When I was a toddler watching the Mecha Anime, Robotech in the mid-80's, having a patronizing CGI robot with a talking computer were highly unnecessary to get me excited about watching the series or any other type of animation Japanese or otherwise. 

Listening to the announcement that my favorite cartoons would be starting was satisfying enough!

Even though I enjoyed watching some of the Action Anime, that aired on Adult Swim's Toonami block over these last 5 years, a number of us veteran Adult Swim viewers are still disgusted with the fact, that Adult Swim uprooted us to pander to crybaby man-children.

Adult Swim mostly panders to Toonami sycophants that desperately cling to their childhood nostalgia on Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings. All the while, zealots continuously cry about wanting to watch the most childish programming on a network meant for adult animation.

Then, some of the other Toonami zealots fear that Toonami is getting canceled again because of the crybabies within their own fandoms constantly throwing tantrums over shows. They fail to realize that they contributed to the cancellation of Chiller TV's Anime Wednesday block, 2 summers ago.

It was bad enough that Chiller TV put almost NO effort in promoting their own Anime block this last time. That's not including the fact that only people with Direct TV and Dish Network, at the time were the only viewers with Chiller TV on our packages.

Adult Swim's Toonami fans wasted so much time nitpicking Is This A Zombie? which was only 1 out of 4 Anime premiering on Anime Wednesday, that Chiller TV canceled the block after only 3 weeks.

Most people today don't understand that we have the ability to make or BREAK entertainment, especially over the Internet.

To give a better understanding about this fandom right now, there is a LOT of infighting among Toonami fans. 

In fact, the fandoms within Toonami have just as much infighting, if not more than The Republican Party. It's THAT  bad.

If Toonami zealots including the One Piece zealots do NOT stop acting like bitter, entitled, spoiled brats and get their acts together, they WILL be the cause of Toonami getting canceled once again. 

Then, they will only have themselves to blame for their precious block getting re-canceled. This is if it DOES happen again with relentless cyberbullying, death threats, maliciously mocking other fanbases, toddler tantrums, and their extreme obsession with cartoon ratings.

With that being said, what are your thoughts about the current state of fandoms within Toonami, including the One Piece fandom?