I’ll keep this short since I’m trying to give my nasty, infected eye a break from staring at computer screens for too long, and it’s already starting to feel a bit itchy at this late hour. Good news is that the eye’s doing a lot better, and isn’t nearly as red or puffy as it was a few days ago, so thanks for all the well wishes! As always, you guys rock.
About the strip: When my eye started swelling, it was impossible for me not to break into a few of Quasimodo’s songs from Disney’s 1996 animated film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which I’m a huge fan of. It’s one of my favorites of the old, new wave of Disney Musical flicks that started with The Little Mermaid, as it has some touching, beautiful songs, a fantastic score and a story about religion and acceptance that still resonates. It also has some incredible animated sequences and great characters (love Judge Claude Frollo), even if the gargoyles adding “comic relief” at the most inappropriate times threaten to ruin the entire movie. If I had the time, I’d make one of those fan edits (like the Jar Jar Binks-less version of Episode I) and just remove the gargoyles and most of the silly humor altogether; I think that would make a great film even better.
Anyway, this strip gave me an opportunity to draw Quasimodo, and an excuse to tell you that if you haven’t seen the film, to go check it out. Interested to see what you guys think of Hunchback, as I know it wasn’t one of Disney’s more popular films, and I don’t have many friends who hold it in as high regard as I do. Still, I can’t wait for this one to come out on Blu-ray.
I always considered Jefbot more of an Aladdin myself. 🙂
heheh. i almost auditioned for the part of Aladdin at the Aladdin stage show at Disneyland, CG, but just couldn’t commit to the long commute if i got the part.
and check you out: you just achieved the Shades of Firsting! wear them well – they’ll keep your eyes shielded if you happen to get a stye like me, or a funky head like Quasi’s:
😎
Lol bot broke out into song. I approve
ha! i’m surprised jefbot’s never broken into song before (or has he?), DJ, since i do it all the time. 🙂
Is it kool for me to tell people that you break out into song all the time, even while you’re going shishi/ewnco? We actually all break out into song, but jefbot, mombot & lo-j have lovely voices, while popbot and I are tone deaf…
I’d make fun of this, but ESQ would just point out that I sometimes do it to.
heheh. and the bathroom’s the best place to break into song, DK! great acoustics and all. 🙂
Xinda! So good to see you on the threads, I hope the recovery road has been and is a smooth one for you!
*raises hand* Yeeeeah…All the women in my family do this. Everything is a song cue and we all start singing. It’s a little disconcereting because some of us (I’m lookin at you Mommy Pixie) break into dancing too…which apparently is catching too because I do it now!
ha! i used to break into dance more often, but haven’t in quite a while, Pixie. would love to see you and momma Pixie cut a rug, though! 😀
Aww man Clayton… I wanted the SoF!!! :'(
shouldn’t you be asleep, Slave1!? i think this is the earliest i’ve seen you on these boards!
Pfft like YOU have any right to nag someone about sleep…Oh Mr. Bot…*headshake*
but, ESQ! it’s because, he, well… um. *hangs head in shame*
♫ Bot’s In Trouble ♪ Nanny nanny ha ha!
*tear*
It’s really annoying for me, because I can’t tell if the times on here are your time or my time here in the UK…
I think the closest I came to the shades were on my birthday back in June, but I missed by a few hours…
haha I forgot about that song. God Help the Outcast is probably one of my most favorites. Although I also like Hellfire as well…Frollo is pretty messed up.
ps Of either song Hellfire is the only one I accidentally start singing at work. xD;
i hate to ask what’s going on at work that you want to break into Hellfire there, Armindo! but, yeah, that’s one of my favorites, too. when Frollo says he had a “little trouble with the fireplace,” i chuckle every time. and, agreed: God Help the Outcasts is a beautiful song. 🙂
hehe- wait he actually says that? I haven’t seen the movie for awhile. Did he really? o:
Well…I was in the Paper Department that night so there are two possible reasons. One: I hate stocking that department because the PDQs are difficult bastards to open. Two: Paper is quick to burn and make pretty fire. So…I suppose it could be both! >=)
God Help the Outcasts is something I hope convicted every Christian believer. Being one myself it’s important to remember acceptance and love. Considering it was Jesus’s primary focus it’s disturbing how quickly we (and me) forget.
ps Oh yea. I work in retail…at night thankfully. No customers! =D
Your face in the last panel is GREAT, now JB may start a Shakespeare monologue.
thanks, CE! i’m actually surprised bot hasn’t done any Shakespeare in the strip… yet. i’ve done so many Shakespeare plays and festivals i’m sure my illustrated counterpart will quote some lines from the Bard one day.
I’m glad you’re feeling a little better, Jeff.
Today’s strip is perfect. Simply perfect. And my third favorite Disney character, too!
You know . . . I’ve been humming, “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” from Little Mermaid through my teeth lately.
Anyone know what that means?
(Just found out that if one judges solely from number of ships, Disney has the fourth largest Navy in the world . . . Suppose that’s why the Muppets and Pixar surrendered?)
thanks, Sarah W – yep, definitely feeling better! today the swelling’s almost completely gone (still red, though) and you can barely see it.
and Poor Unfortunate Souls is awesome! Ursula’s one of my all-time favorite villains. >:)
Yay Disney! I love Disney movies and can’t wait for Beauty and the Beast in 3D.
i’m with ya, GG! definitely planning on seeing B&B3D at Disney’s El Capitan theater in Hollywood when it comes out.
The Bells! The Bells! They made me deaf!
ha! yeah, if i lived among a bunch of giant, ringing bells, i’d be deaf too, CheddarMan.
This? THis RIGHT here? THIS is how I know we are kindred spirits!!!
“We now break from the previously schedule fan girl gush to bring you…Pixie’s Good Morning!”
Good Morning Assorted Bots and The Exhaulted Familia! I am in my Christmas finery (is you call my knitted santa cap, grinch socks and bells everywhere finery) as today is our office Holiday Luncheon. If for some reason I don’t get to see you all before hand…May you all have the happiest of Holidays for of love and joy.
“We now return to the Fan Girl Gush”
I love love LOVE the Disney ‘Reboot” that surged in the 90’s! Little Mermaid, Mulan, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast. And Hunchback of Notre Dame…So many emotions in this movie. Frollo scares the CRAP outta me! And God Help the Outcasts = Hysterical Hot Mess of Pixie. I can’t even watch this movie unless I have tissues in the house.
You’re art work is AMAZING Jeff, I would have never guessed he wasn’t drawn by a disney animator if I didn’t know better.
Itchy is good! That means it’s healing. Rest it as much as humanly possible and remember to keep it clean with warm damp wash cloths.
I agree with you Pixie! I accidently cried when I first saw “The Little Mermaid”, and I’m not a big cryer, but when Ariel says goodbye to her Dad, I was like what is this liquid coming out of my eyes… it must be a stye… ;0….
all my lady friends tell me this is their favorite scene from Little Mermaid, pinkee! and most of them tell me LM’s their favorite Disney film, too.
No my biggest sob scene for the Little Mermaid is Part of Your World. I have to pause til I can regain myself.
hooray for kindred spirits, Pixie! glad you dug this one, and “good morning” back atcha!
i missed my holiday luncheon, but it was worth it since i worked from home that day, letting my eye heal up a bit. always happy to work from home instead of the office, even when there’s free food involved. 🙂
i still love all those Disney movies, too! such a great renaissance of hand-drawn animation during that time! and i always get a little misty (well, as misty as i get) during a bunch of the scenes from Hunchback. Out There, God Help the Outcasts, the part where Quasi yells out “Sanctuary”, the part where the little girl touches his face at the end… *sniff*
and thanks for the kudos on the artwork! it’s fun drawing other characters; i need to do it more often since i always learn something from it.
and glad to hear itchy is good – my eye was itching me all day yesterday (friday), but today it feels fine if i don’t touch it. (i know, i shouldn’t be touching it.) the skin’s all dry and starting to flake off my eyelid, which is a good thing, i’m hoping.
merry Christmas and happiest of holidays to you and yours, too! 😀
I allways thout Disney is butchery of classical literature. Have you read the book? I know, it starts weeeeery slowlyyyyy, but its a worthwhile read. I wont spoil but dont expect happy ending, just realistic.
While it’s true that Disney writers couldn’t stick to source material if their lives depended on it, that isn’t to say that they can’t tell a decent story. However I would agree that there is a difference between rewriting a fairy tale (with its one-dimensional archetypes just begging to be given some depth) and essentially rewriting great literature. Not just rewriting. Bastardizing. Because Disney changes the tones and themes found in things to be more “kid-friendly.” Some things just aren’t written for children, you know?
Does everyone remember Anastasia? Um, yea.
ugh. trying to forget!
Hey , I liked that one too (mainly just the music though). My daughter likes the scary parts (she’s three and a half) and the music. I’ll tell her the true story soon…
I LOVED Anastasia! ANd P.S. Not to nitpick but that was not done by Disney. At least it wasn’t Disney at the time.
Once Upon a December makes me cry. I lost my real dad when I was little so this song speaks to me.
This is probably my favorite song from that movie.(this just happened to appear in my suggestions box on YouTube today)
as an English major, i totally understand, Maryz, and have felt that way about many animated and live-action films over the years. but i’m generally at least intrigued by adaptations, and this one worked for me. also, coincidentally, another adaptation of Victor Hugo’s work, Les Misérables, is one of my favorite musicals.
Disney completely F’ed up Huck Finn. They skipped like half the book and their ending sucked.
Ya know, they say the reason for those stye thingies are because of LACK OF SLEEP…POOR NUTRITION…and dirty hands…Now, from what I know of you…and the power of scrawn…you don’t sleep much AND you forget to eat (as if!)…also, since you’re a mancub, that kind of explains the whole dirty hands thing…cooties and all that jazz…(LMAO)…So, are we Harem members supposed to go over there and make sure you’re eating right and sleeping? Hmm? I have a ham sammich and a baseball bat, we can cure both, right now! Unconsciousness is unconsciousness, right? 😀 *sigh* here I go again… *nag nag nag nag nag* I’ll tell you what I tell DK…I nag because I care 😛
I agree with you ESQ jefbot is so Dirty….
I totally LOLed at that. 😀 All it needed was a *wink wink, nudge nudge*
thanks for adding the wink and nudge, Shanna. 🙂
(after pausing to heat up a frozen burrito) “I have a ham sammich and a baseball bat” rotfl! That’s perfect.
ty ty ty 😀
She keeps the ham sammich on hand cuz you can’t deliver a beat down on an empty stomach. It was nice of her to offer it to Bot before HIS beatdown.
ah! thanks for the explanation, DK. (and thanks for the consideration, ESQ.)
Well, and ESQ doesn’t share food with just anyone…DK lost part of a finger due to a ham incident…
well, if lack of sleep and poor nutrition breed the condition for these stye things, i’m surprised i haven’t gotten ’em earlier, ESQ! (just don’t tell Mombot, as she’s always telling me i need to get more sleep and eat better.) and i’m pretty hygienic, but i am touching keyboards and tablets all day so who knows?
i guess since it might be any/all these things i could use a harem member or two to help me out… *creepy, pervy laugh* (bring the ham sammich, lose the baseball bat.) 😉
Soup. I’m very good at making soup. The trick is getting the broth just right.
Gawd Fabid he should eat! Gawd Fabid he should sleep! Oye he gives me ulcers. Fine, just waste away to nothing, yer just breaking our little hearts gawd fabid.
Oh bot. You so silly. xD
true dat.
disney oO
enjoy a hot cup of sexism and racism
yeah, but did you hear that Disney-owned Pixar is having their first female main lead with their next film, Brave, Malkav? so all is forgiven! 😉
nope, not really…
sorry for the term, but I’ve never were interested in learning “political correct expressions” in the english language, therefore:
niggers, they include their stereotypes in nearly every production…
the crows in “dumbo”, timon & pumba in “king of lions” or – as the most obvious one- goofy…
and that is not even the top of the hill
they always mention jew-like characters as greedy, selfish and evil, a.s.o…
stereotypes, they love them
+all of their films implicate to little children the perfect image of their kind…
women MUST be sexy, devot, and good in house-hold-stuff, while boys must train to become atlas-like body-builder, have to make a fuckton of money (most male staring characters in disney-films are a prince), and have to fight against all “evil” (see above)
sorry, but one publicity-indicated step in the right direction don’t erase decades of mass-manipulation
but hey, who am I to judge about your favorites…
at least I wish you health and a long life…
don’t take the rage above personal, it’s critique addressed to the producer…
not the viewer
*blinks* Wow….we don’t use that word on here. Ever.
*double blinks* Timon and Pumba are black?! How did you come to that realization? And Goofy? Really?!
You do realize in the time of Dumbo, that was not considered wrong or racist. I’m not saying it wasn’t I’m saying it was the norm. You can’t hold up Movies from the Past up to the presents standards. That’s like saying the SFX in the Original Tron sucked. In it’s day, that was cutting edge.
As far as the “sexism” goes….Blame the Brothers Grimm. 90% of their Fairytales involve no mother an absenty and/or passive father and abuse. Disney “bases” the movies loosely on Grimms tales along with others. Again, this is something from the past being held up to the standards of a Modern world.
Read the real story of Cinderella…it’s barbaric! How about Snow White?
I think everyone should stop trying to read so much into everything and just enjoy the movies. If it bothers you so much, the simple solution is not to watch them. Don’t buy the merchandise. Don’t visit the parks. See? Easy.
*hops down off her soapbox and tucks it away for later.”
your points are mostly valid, but it were still disney’s own decision whether to remake those stories or simply left them as that what they were created for:
medieval lessons about outdated moral-standards and fables about good and evil.
none of them are healthy for the minds of our todays kids and should be taught only in literature-classes with the right context and explanations…
throwing them out, without any guidance nor words of understatement is simply irresponsible.
but about dumbo: this movie were released in 1941, and the behavior of the crows were -even back then- not the norm. they pictured a image that would fit for 1865-1880, the years after the american civil war, where blacks were recognized as dumb, uneducated and cheap laborer…
this were not the current social-image of blacks in 1941. Nearly every black kid had visited a school these days and their education-standard was even higher as the todays whole american society (thx MTV, Blizzard and all the others), therefore it were back then and today simply a insulting for the whole american black society.
this is only one example of many, but I think this is the wrong platform for further discussions about this topic, therefore:
peace, I will shut up now^^
Ghehe, I get eye infections often too (as in, a couple of times a year) and I will totally remember to sing Quasimodo songs next time. Would make it so much better!
Although my eye infections are different. I get what noooooormal people get on their mouth, the lip sore thingies. But then on my eyelids! It’s brilliant! … Really an area I could’ve done with NOT being different from other people!
I read your eye is doing much better though, so let’s hope it goes fully away soon and never comes back! 🙂
OUCH! that sounds totally sucky, Nahiyana. this thing was fairly painful for a couple days so i’d hate for it to happen more frequently. wishing you good eye health in 2012! 😀
If you like the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, you should try to find a copy of the Quebec musical Notre Dame de Paris. Minus the lead actress (who is a bit god-awful–they basically asked various famous pop stars to fill the role because people would come to see them; some were better than others) the cast is AMAZING. Quasimodo especially (played by a singer named Garou) brings tears to my eyes every time.
i might have to check that out, Sharra! i’ll see if it’s on Netflix. i like the Universal version and the tv movie (where Sir Anthony Hopkins plays Quasi), too.
I haven’t watched most of the Disney animated films in years. Also, SKYRIM! That is all.
just started Skyward Sword and still need to finish Arkham City, Fijiman! but after those (and perhaps Uncharted 3), i’ll dive into Skyrim!
You’re missing out on an epic game with every day you wait to start.
Because the link I posted no longer works, here’s a working link to the song.
Quasimodo is actually one of my favourite cartoon characters.
@jefbot will you be making a new storyline any time soon? Not that I want to rush you or anything, but it might be fun!
glad to hear that about Quasi, DAS!
and a new storyline’s in the works! i have a BIG one planned for 2012 and a little one featuring everybody’s favorite flying mammal, just in time for Christmas. 🙂
Speaking of 2012… do you believe that the world will end December 21st 2012? Truth please!
If it does my brother will be pissed, because that’s his 24th birthday.
nope. especially since i’m just now getting back to these comments and it’s the 23rd! *whew!*
Love the “out there” song references and the detail in the last frame is amazing! Happy Holiday’s Jefbot! Hope that eye gets better soon!
happy holidays, FunnyShaffer! hope you have a great one!
Hehe, Hunchbot.
I’m a bigger fan of Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, myself. Not sure if I ever saw more than a trailer for Hunchback. Never was big on The Little Mermaid like my older brother, but it’s been ages since I saw it last.
Also: Congratulations on reaching strip number four hundred!!
wooHOO! i forgot to mention that! thanks for bringing it up. 😀
Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid are all great, too, Insectoid! but if you get a chance to check out Hunchback, do so. i think you may dig it.
Are you wearing the Madeye Moody eye patch? Sorry your eye is being a problem again. 🙁
I think I may have only seen Hunchback once or twice. That is pretty amazing for me. I have seen most of the Disney/Pixar animated movies many times. It was ok, but it didn’t do as much for me as some of the others. There is still a warm place in my heart for the Rescuers (my childhood fave), and I love the Little Mermaid. Of the recent ones, Dispicable Me is my favorite; and I love all of the Miyazaki/Sudio Ghibli movies.
OMFG!!! *Another* “Rescuers” fan?! Awesome!!! And here I thought that I was the only one all these years! Have you read any (or all) of the Margery Sharp books? Did you see the sequel? (“The Rescuers Down Under”) I’m a big fan of the music too. How about you?
You’re not the only one, most people just don’t talk about it, kinda like your pancreas. It’s there, you may like it, but you don’t talk about it. XD
But…but…I talk about my pancreas *ALL THE TIME!* It’s an *AWESOME* pancreas! Pancreases (pancreii?) should not be ignored! 😉
I have been giving my pancreas the silent treatment since it decided to stop making insulin. That kinda pissed me off.
Oh! Sorry to hear that you and your pancreas aren’t getting along! 🙁 *shakes finger at shanna’s pancreas* Bad pancreas! Bad, *BAD* pancreas! >:-(
I haven’t read any of the Marjorie Sharp books. Is that who wrote the original story? I saw the sequel, but it didn’t become a favorite like the original Rescuers. And I can still sing along with all the songs and recite much of the dialog of the original. 🙂
“I haven’t read any of the Marjorie Sharp books. Is that who wrote the original story?”
Yep. (And it’s “Margery”. Marjorie Sharpe is a painter.) They can usually still be found in the YA section of libraries, or you can look for them at used bookstores or maybe on eBay. They’re well worth a read.
“I saw the sequel, but it didn’t become a favorite like the original Rescuers. And I can still sing along with all the songs and recite much of the dialog of the original.”
That’s better than me. I had a good bit of the dialogue memorized — although it’s been a few years since I’ve seen it so I’ve probably forgotten some of it — and can whistle most of the soundtrack; but I can’t sing worth a darn.
YES! your Madeye Moody patch came in handy once again, Shanna! totally helped me keep my eye closed when i was at the drawing table. i also took it to work and used it in my office one day, but either nobody in my department noticed it or they were just afraid to mention it. 🙂
and i, too, LOVE the Rescuers! was such a dark movie when i was a kid, but i remember i had the album/storybook and would listen/read it constantly.
haven’t seen Despicable Me, yet, but my sister Laura/Lor liked it. definitely need to check it out. and the Ghibli movies are my absolute FAVORITES. Ghibli has to be my favorite animation studio, methinks. yep, even more so than Disney/Pixar. a friend and i have been going through their films again, in chronological order (we’re at Totoro – probably my favorite Miyazaki film) and am still amazed by the quality of storytelling and animation. love, love, love Ghibli/Miyazaki.
Aren’t you supposed to be taking it easy? I think that entails not drawing comics, no spontaneous dancing or singing (those sharps can be dangerous you know, and don’t even get me started on all those musical notes floating around when you do that), and no familial prodding (as they tend to prod back, harder….).
Making this brief so you don’t have to strain your eye: “1) Awesome strip, 2) Hope you feel better, and 3) Happy holidays.” That is all. 🙂 LOL
I see my son has a soul mate…
Glad to hear you’re doing better bot! A warm compress should help with the swelling if you have one. My mom would always just dampen a washcloth with some warm (approaching hot) water and lay it over her eyes while she slept. It took some of the puffy redness and pain away from the stye. If you get them several times on the same eye however you should definitely go to a hospital, cause they can lead to some vision loss.
Also, Anyone else have a problem with Firefox saying “ATTACK SITE” when trying to get here today? I did, though I’ve just sent a feedback report saying I’ve never encountered malware here.
It’s been a while since I actually laughed out loud while reading a web comic. Thanks for the installment, Jeff! (And I’m glad your eye’s finally feeling good enough that you were able to post!)
Bot, if we were on the same coast, I’d bring some vodka. If it would make you stop singing emo Disney songs. 👿
First of all: Get Well, Jeff!
Second: While it’s not necessarily my *favorite* Disney movie, “Hunchback” is definitely in the Top 10 and I certainly wouldn’t mind getting my hands on the full orchestral score of the soundtrack — the music is JUST. THAT. GOOD.
This strip just proved to me that you really are a hollywood actor, it ain’t a big deal JB. It’ll disappear before you know it.
Ah, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. One of the few movies from that generation I do not have (it, Hunchback 2, and Home on the Range; the last of which stopped that version of animation for a LONG time until Frog Princess, which everyone knows). My fave song from HB is ‘God Help the Outcasts’. I often feel like one. I don’t fit with most people around me. Don’t like rap/hip-hop (Celtic Woman and Celtic Thunder FTW!); play WoW and D&D; don’t follow sports….yeppers, I’m an Outcast.
This is one of those moments when I wish I didn’t live several thousand miles away. My EMT-CNA-take-care-of sense is tingling, and I can’t do anything about it. Sigh!
I grew up on the classic Disney movies, and loved many of them. Belle from Beauty and the Beast was my favorite, because I felt like her: not quite like everyone else and slightly on the outside looking in. I never did watch Hunchback, though. I think I need to now.
Now get some rest, love!
http://fails.failblog.org/2011/12/15/epic-fail-probably-bad-news-you-dont-always-have-to-renew-your-subscription/
sounds familiar bot?
Those who know fear burn at the touch of Man-Thing!
Happy 400th strip!
Wait, what?! Oh s#*% you’re right! I hadn’t noticed.(nor anyone else by the looks of it) Congrats Jeff. 😉
thanks! might have to celebrate the milestone (after Christmas and New Year’s), Fijiman!
thanks, Kenshi! feels good!
well get your christmas bat survival gear ready he’ll becoming out of hibernation soon for those that dont have that the zombie survival gear will substitute
you called it, drakeye! The Christmas Bat just swooped into the next strip (#401!)
It did look pretty bad.