Collage of Massive Nostalgia

I was inspired lately to do something for me---a collage of some sorts. I made a poll of doing either cartoon characters or items, and the majority said a mix of both. Well everyone, I give you a mass nostalgia. Each and every one of these items and characters means a piece of my childhood or something that stuck with me over the years. Whether it is the character that I enjoyed or the item that I couldn't get out of my mind, all of these holds a special place in my heart---and I will explain this to you.

Clockstoppers (Watch)--Okay I know that this movie is corny, but when I was a kid this was the best thing that happened. I asked my grandma and grandpa each time I would go over their house to rent the movie at our local video store. Every weekend, I would watch the movie until I had to return it. If you don't know what the Watch is significant for, well---it is basically about this watch that can slow time down to seem like everything is at a standstill but you are just moving really fast. I also developed my celebrity crush for Jesse Bradford from there.

Dragonball Z (Dragonballs)--This is one of those times when I rushed home after school to watch Dragonball Z. This is when I didn't know it was an anime. It was so cool! The effects, the storyline, everything was amazing about this show. I even got toys from it. I remember I had a Goku, a Vegeta, Android 19, and Videl (I still have them today). As I got older, the theme song comes on and it takes me back down a trip to memory lane. DRAGON BALL Z!

The Pagemaster (Fantasy)--I will admit, I liked Macaulay Culkin when I was a kid. I watched Richie Rich, Home Alone 1&2, and The Pagemaster like all the time. I still find myself watching this movie from time to time. It is about a kid who is afraid of everything and can't have the courage to step up to it. He goes into town to run an errand for his father and ends up taking shelter at a library from a storm. He then goes on this wild and crazy adventure to overcome his fears. He meets storylines that have adventure, fantasy, and horror--which happens to be the names of the books that follow him around the movie. Of course, Fantasy connected with me and I just loved her sassyness (not to mention voiced by Whoopi Goldberg). 

Balto (Bandanna and Northen Lights)--I love this movie dearly. I bought the soundtrack to it when I found it, and I fell in love with it even more. Being an owner of an Alaskan Malamute also helped play a role in this one. I love that this movie teaches others to believe in yourself, to be proud of your heritage, and to have faith in others. When I was in New York City, I had to go visit the Balto statue and I couldn't have been more happy. The Northern Lights and the bandanna represent Jenna, who is Balto's reason to carry on with his personal mission to save Nome. 

Sailor Moon (Silver Crystal, Crescent Moon, and Tiara)--Sailor Moon is and will forever be my favorite anime. As I said in the past, I never knew what anime was---so I was a bit late to the game. But when I discovered it, I binged watched the series in a matter of a week. I just love the different meanings in this series (love, compassion, strength, power, determination, etc.) and I can go on explaining why each one is important---but I won't for time sake. I have the whole original series, the current new dub, Crystal, and even figures. I can't express anymore how much Sailor Moon has affected my life.

Powepuff Girls (Buttercup)--I loved the Powerpuff Girls so much that I can remember watching this when I was over my great-aunt's house while my mom and her had adult talk. The original PPG had that spark to it that the newer version doesn't. The one that I related to the most was Buttercup. Of course since I am Italian, I had an attitude like her. I don't put up with crap that bothers me, and I like to voice my opinion even though it may be the right thing to say or not. When I was younger, I cosplayed as Buttercup for Halloween and loved every bit of it.

Dexter's Laboratory (Dexter)--There was so many things about Dexter's Lab that made this show special to me. It was a special show to me because it had different story lines in it---M for Monkey, Justice Friends, and the main show. Dexter made the show with his "Dee-Dee, get out of my laboratory" accent or "ommlet du fromage". Dexter was the smart one in the class like I was in Spanish, and everyone went to him. When Mandark came into play, for me--that was like having a native Spanish speaker in the classroom and everyone said it was a dual with me and the Spanish speaker to be the best in the class.

Ben 10 (Omitrix)--I loved this show, I wish there was more of the original series. I didn't like the newer ones that came out, but the original one was the way to go in my opinion. I loved how Ben could transform into those aliens and each one was specific to certain things and unique. I even made up a fan made alien for myself. I would create my own version of an Omnitrix and be like Ben 10. I wish I can find that drawing now.

Space Jam (Basketball)--Who wouldn't like Space Jam? Come on, Michael Jordan and the Looney Tunes----EPIC. I didn't care about the other players in the movie except for Michael because I loved Michael Jordan when he was playing basketball. I have the soundtrack (physical copy), the movie score on iTunes, a plush of Blanko, the Space Jam game on PS1, and the Blu ray movie. A little obsessed? I think so, but for a very good reason. I would want to be next to Michael Jordan and play basketball with him!

Rugrats (Tommy Pickles)--This show. SO MUCH NOSTALGIA! I would literally watch this show so many times on my VHS player that I ruined a couple of tapes just by watching it so much. I have seasons 1-3 so far, and even the movies. The one character that I connected with was of course Tommy. For a baby, he had the heart of an angel and the courage of an adult. I always wanted to be like Tommy. I remember that I had a plush of Tommy that spoke to me. 

Independence Day (Recovered Spaceship)--When I first watched this movie, I was amazed by the special effects and the storyline. Even though I was scared that an alien would be attacking when I saw a cloud that looked like the spaceships, I couldn't get enough of this movie. My favorite actors Jeff Goldblum and Will Smith were in it, how could I not like it? I loved everything about this movie, and as the older I got--the more appreciative that I became for having my parents letting me watch it. I have both movies and a limited edition soundtrack of the first movie. I listen to this soundtrack when I am drawing, and it gives me a lot of inspiration. 

Captain Planet (Ring)--Who couldn't forget being a Planeteer? Honestly, who really couldn't. I wanted to be like them in the show! Of course, we can all do that now---but it was an amazing show that taught me things about the enviorment.

Scooby Doo and the Reluctant Werewolf (Brunch)--A classic Scooby Doo movie that became a Halloween tradition for the future me. I watched this movie when it was on VHS, and I just recently found the DVD at a local grocery store. Scooby Doo, Shaggy, Scrappy, and Googie are taken to Transylvania when Shaggy is turned into a werewolf and has to race in the annual Monster Car Rally. The one character that I liked was a villain for a change, but a funny one---Brunch. He is the smarter twin of the Hunch Bunch. His other twin, Crunch, is the dumb one---so he has to carry out the plans all the time. I loved his supposed British accent the most.  

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (Scepter)--This was one of my favorite movies as a child, and it holds a very special place in my heart. It was another one of those instances when I didn't know it was an anime movie. I loved the concept that it was trying to teach kids not to lie and keep promises. I would watch this movie over and over again. It is about a boy named Nemo who takes a trip to Slumberland and becomes the Prince of Slumberland. He is given a key from the King and was told that he can open any door in Slumberland except the door that has the symbol of the key on it. Trouble ensures, and Nemo is the only one who can save Slumberland from the Nightmare King. The Scepter is essential because it is the one thing that can defeat the King, but Nemo is too young and inexperienced to use it---but he might have to use it in order to save Slumberland. This movie--the feels. Ugh, so much feels. I have the soundtrack, the Blu-Ray movie, and I also cosplayed as Nemo.  

Lilo and Stitch (Scrump)--This Disney movie became my favorite once it came out (sorry The Lion King!). I became obsessed with the Hawaiian culture and wanted to know more about Hawaii because of the movie. I also related to this movie because I was like Lilo---the misunderstood, the lonely one. I was like her when I was in school. I didn't have a lot of friends, I was the oddball of my class. One day at school, I was called Lilo because I looked like her. That nickname was with me throughout high school. Our senior theme was Disney, so it was only natural for me to cosplay Lilo. I did and everyone was in love with it. I loved that cosplay so much that I still use it today. I have so many Lilo and Stitch dolls, it is not even funny. I drew Scrump because it was the only friend/outlet that Lilo had to convey her feelings. 

A Goofy Movie (Powerline)--OH. MY. GOD. Powerline was like my cartoon crush. I loved this guy, even though we only saw him at the end of the movie. He reminded me of Michael Jackson (who I still like) and I wanted to sing to all of his songs. I watched A Goofy Movie until that VHS couldn't be played anymore. I can still remember that smell that the sticker had on it. I got it on DVD a while ago, and when I found the songs on iTunes---I went nuts. I felt like that I was back at my old room dancing to his songs, just like Max and Goofy did. 

The Pebble and the Penguin (Hubie)--One of the only Don Bluth movies that really has stuck by me throughout my childhood. Even though it is a short movie, I couldn't resist singing to the songs each time I watched it. This was another instance like Lilo, that I felt bad for the character. I loved that Hubie had a disability and was nervous about talking to the girl that he loved. It was like me when I had my first boyfriend and date, I was so nervous that I stuttered. Plus, I wanted that pebble! 

Jurassic Park (Alan's Velociraptor Claw)--Another Jeff Goldblum classic that I was allowed to watch when I was younger. This movie still has some amazing aspects such as the CGI, animatronics, and more that made this movie into the classic that it is today. I will say, that T-Rex scared the crap out of me each time I got to that part. I would hide beside my parent's bed until that it was over. The older I got, the better it became to watch it. It looked so real, that is what is still amazing about this movie. I drew Alan's claw because it is a symbol of him wanting to know about dinosaurs, mostly about raptors. He was obsessed with raptors, like me. This movie was an important part of my childhood and still is. I have the Blu Ray movie, the soundtrack, and the PC game Jurassic Park Operation Genesis. 

Rocket Power (Skateboard)--This Nickelodeon cartoon holds a place in the nostalgia department. I had grown to like this show because of how cool it was. Kids were riding skateboards, bikes, and surfing like pros! I wanted to be like them! One Christmas, my mom and dad got my a skateboard that was Rocket Power themed. It has Twister on it. I couldn't skate too much because where I used to live there wasn't a lot of space to ride. I would try to skate in my room, but failed each time. Their woogity woogity move even came about in real life. I was playing softball--and there was a time when my dad and I bonded closely. We both liked the show so much that we wanted to use that same move that they did. He would give me a pep talk through the fences or when he was coaching and we would do that move once we were done talking, like a go get 'em thing. I still miss that today. 

So as you can see, a lot of these things is cherished and loved in my world for their own little place in my heart.  

All characters and symbols (C) Respective owners---Nickelodeon, Genndy Tartakovsky, Don Bluth, Disney, Windsor McCay, Universal, Fox, Naoko Takeuchi, Akira Toriyama
Art (C)

Estimated time--16 hours
Utensils used--0.7 lead, eraser, Bic pen, colored pencils