Just in time for Thanksgiving, so let’s review the
last western film for the year, Yakari as part of DEMO OF SERIES’ COLLECTION! It’s
Pronounced as Ya-care-ee, not Ya-car-ree. This is when I review in this case of
the arc of the series. There was an original series of Yakari in the 80’s, but
I couldn’t find it in English.
The first episode, Yakari & The Great Eagle, Yakari has a dream to be to a
man and capture a horse named Little Thunder. After he got saved by the Great Eagle,
the Eagle gave Yakari his feather as he gained the ability to talk to selective
animals for the episode. So Yakari has Wild Thornberry or Dr. Dolittle powers.
“If I can walk with the animals, talk with the
animals, run, and sleep, flock with the animals...”
-
Chief Wiggum disguise as Dr. Dolittle.
The second episode, Yakari & Little Thunder, Yakari finally getting to Little
Thunder after saving a cougar kitten. The third episode, The First Gallop, Yakari is connecting
to Little Thunder, but lost him due to his ego. Yakari has more connection to
nature than Pocahontas, but not as much in terms of elements with Moanna.
It’s rare to see a TV show starring a Native
American. Anytime there are Native Americans in TV shows, they’re usually the
supporting cast, as far as I recall aside from Hiawatha. Please name any
animated TV show starring a Native America in the comment. The cast mostly consist of those who voiced in
Arthur. I’ll assume Yakari is voiced by the same actress who voiced Arthur
Reed’s Mom. Please don’t point out the race thing, unless they have the Johnny
Depp excuse of revealing or process of being 1/ 16th. Some would say
the series would go deep with the history with them. Where in history of
America do you need to go to Fantasia with Atryu?
“Gesundheit!”
-
Falkor dubbed by Chester A. Bum
Yakari is a likable kid, but kinda too happy with
little to no range, though this is judging the 1st 3 episodes.
Hopefully there’s more conflict that could make him as human as Steven Universe
and less robotic as a Stepford Wives or any stoic actor. The others characters
are forgettable at most. I really like Little Thunder. Maybe it’s the G4 Brony
in me, or maybe he’s more human than Yakari. Little Thunder has survived as a
wild horse, and his experience is interesting. If you want a series to see the
rider and horse close to equally human, then go watch Dreamwork’s She-Ra with
the extent of Gumby and Pokey. Not counting Lucky Luke with his horse since one
was mostly lazy and the other one only nag.
What I can’t like about the series is the Comic
Paneling. Yes, this is based on a comic, but much like Ang Lee’s Hulk and Revision
Power Rangers; the paneling mostly happened on non-engaging scene as it’s
pointless. Yakari is less of an action comic and more of an atmospheric
adventure. Think of it as the Bone comic, or something rare like that.
Yakari is an interesting series. For a 15 minute
show, it runs in the right pace. Though I think episode 2 and 3 would be better
together if you cut out the cougars and waiting scenes. Yes, patience and test
of kindness are a virtue, but fillers/ padding are often feels like a sin. If
you have the time, check out Yakari mostly on youtube. It’s a little spiritual
quest to take. Speaking of quest, I’m getting ready to talk about some
Christmas films.
Good review. I never heard of this but you made it sound worth checking out. As for the native kid starring in a cartoon, in Canada is this kinda cr-ppy animated and acted kids show called "Louis Says" where its like a slower less interesting Dora the Explorer where we learn his peoples language, 1 word every 11 minute 2 segment episode. Its not awful but there are better shows. As for Depp, He's actually 0% native and 1/1000th black(well, 2/2000th) and once they found out, the native channel APTN stopped airing his movies. But good review and good comparisons to how it does things other films did/would do.
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