If you don’t have kids or watch toddler-aimed television programs, this entry will bore the crap out of you. Or possibly terrify you of having children for fear you will someday find this issue as pressing as I do. There is your warning.

This is - by far - my favorite show that NikkiZ watches. It is on Nick Jr. and is called Backyardigans. The video gives a good sample of some of the song/dance numbers you can see on the show. Perfect to demonstrate why I love this show so much…it’s all in the song/dance numbers. I find myself infatuated with imagining the production process of this show. Anyone who comes to my house and sees this show with me gets to hear my speech pondering the existence of The Cartoon Choreographer.

Here’s my thing: These cartoon characters perform real song and dance numbers during this show. I mean, original lyrics and tricky group dance numbers. WHO CHOREOGRAPHS THIS? Is there some trained choreographer on staff who puts together these routines? If so - how do they convert that information so the animators can draw the scenes? Is it some CGI costume that people wear in certain roles that the computer translates to movement? Do the animators just watch a production of the dance numbers with human fill-ins and do the animation themselves? And this choreographer - is this a full-time job? Are the human fill-ins the same people? Does the same guy always do Pablo’s moves? Does he/she have a business card that says, “Pablo Fill-In” on it? Is there a union for other Cartoon Choreographers? Do they teach how to choreographer routines for non-human animations? I MUST KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

I would love, love, love to sit in on a production of this show. Every time it’s on I consider different possibilities and scenarios to the point where this has occupied way too many of my active brain synapses. What did that part of my brain used to think about? Politics? Literature? The Environment? Let those of you who have yet to succumb to the power of children’s programming be forewarned: YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN.

Edited To Add - Of course I should have known Wikipedia would have had the answers. (Thanks, Jen)

Each of the five characters on the show has two vocal actors: one for the speaking parts, and one for the singing parts. In the United States and Canada, the voice actors are all actual children.

The dancing on the show is first done by live-action dancers, and their movements are later transported to animation. Choreographer Beth Bogush describes the process: “What we do is we film live footage in the studio and then they send that off and they do a Leica, and then they send it to the animators. And the animators just watch, and they’re pretty precise. What we film for that day is pretty close to what you see in the character.”

Heath Ledger is dead. I’ve crushed on him since that movie Knight’s Tale which I have seen no less than nine hundred times. 10 Things I Hate About You was viewed almost as much, but I preferred him as a blonde. I’ve seen all of his movies and swooned over his interviews. More importantly - he was a Dad. To a baby girl around NikkiZ’s age. I probably shouldn’t be this sad over someone I don’t know, but some celebrities you follow for so long you begin to feel as though you know them. This is one of those times. So sad.

Okay. So, I’ve always said I’m a sucker for a cheesy action flick or a sappy romantic comedy. If I could avoid artsy dramas for the rest of my life, I would. When I watch a movie, I want to walk away having been entertained. And when it comes to action movies, the more outrageous? The better.

I started watching Live Free or Die Hard when I woke up with my persistent headache at 4am. I took some Tylenol, made some coffee, and curled up on the couch to watch a movie that would make me smile but didn’t require much brain power on my part. OMG. That movie IS SO AWESOME. I’m not done with it yet (stupid job) but I’ve seen some of my favorite action scenes EVER. SUV dangling in an elevator shaft while Bruce Willis and Mrs. Badass Martial Arts Lady fight inside and out of the vehicle? AWESOME. Tunnels scenes with helicopters? AMAZING. The Mac Guy who I’m kinda in love with now because he’s so adorable in that movie? FAN-FREAKIN-TASTIC. I’m telling you - if every movie in the world were just like that one - I’d die a happy woman.

This song…it embodies so much to me. I know it seems cliché, but it just brings back so many memories from so many times. The blue jeans I wrote the lyrics on, the boyfriend who had a LZ box set that we listened to constantly, the poster in the room I spent so much time in during college, the covers by the bands I adored. I have flashbacks to every one of those moments, all at the same time. Music has always been emotional to me, and seeing this recent performance in London simply moved me. Seriously. It was filmed with a cell phone, but the quality is still good enough to knock my damn socks off and let me know how amazing it must have been in person.

So, I finally finished The Golden Compass, just in time to see the movie. I wanted to put my views/thoughts/opinions concerning the controversy on the table and let you hear the things I’ve learned by reading the books and the conclusions I’ve come to. This is one of those few entries I actually put thought into, so bear with me.

I Actually Understand the Controversy
When the fundamentalist Christian extremists were trying to get Harry Potter off the shelves, I kinda wrote that off to a bunch of insane people with too much time on their hands. But the controversy surrounding this book? I understand. Religion and Faith is a very personal thing, and I would never question someone who would like to protect their children from something they feel would jeopardize that. I don’t scoff at those who are against these books. I don’t even feel sorry for them. I understand where they’re coming from and if I felt like there was a book attacking my “church” - I don’t think I could keep quiet about it. So, where some may bash those people who object, I am not one of them. I will not bash those who have strong feelings against the book, I just have decided I don’t share those same feelings.

I Would Never Keep My Child From A Children’s Book, But I Would Actually Discourage Certain Books
Some have been asking parents to keep their children away from the books or movies. Most would probably assume that I would never ever ever do that. While I don’t think I would ever do that - I know better than to say “Never!” However, I’m also not a big fan of religion-bashing of any kind. I wasn’t sure if these books bashed Catholicism or Christianity. And while I’m not a practicing Catholic or a Christian, I have little tolerance for insulting anyone’s religion. So, I wanted to read the book to find out for sure. Some people may assume that if the Christians don’t like it, then I would love it. But that’s not true. I respect other’s faiths and I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I want everyone who is against those books to know I went into this with an open mind. But - then - I found nothing to worry about.

Truthfully, Atheism is not a Fear of Mine
I know! You’re shocked! By some definitions, I’m probably considered an atheist. Now, I would probably argue that semantically because I’m not necessarily against the idea of an omnipotent creator, I just don’t believe in the typical Judea-Christian idea of God. So, in some circles? I am an atheist. So, obviously the fear that my child could be influenced to be an atheist - does not really exist. The Fear of My Child Being An Atheist is probably right above Fear My Child Will Wear Bermuda Shorts and right below Fear My Child Will Like Country Music.

The Book is a Fantasy
Now, to the book. First and foremost? The book is a fantasy. There’s talking bears and animal guardians and witches and magic tools. It’s a fantasy. It’s not about some kid in Minnesota battling the church. It’s not based anymore in reality than Cinderella. So, I really think it’s something to consider when worrying about how a child will interpret it. If you fear they’ll interpret the Evil Church as it reads in the book, then will you also fear they’ll believe in witches and such as well? As a fantasy, it reads like a fairy tale, not like a text book. I really don’t think you can pull out the elements that might not be “fantasy” and fear those, but not fear the Witches and such. Most would (and should) look at the entire story, The Evil Papacy and Witches combined, and know that none of it is built on truth.

The Book is a Hard Read
This book is not for your average child. It’s got a complicated plot and tricky language. If a child is intelligent enough to wade through it, then I honestly believe they would be intelligent enough to interpret the story in a way that doesn’t translate to them immediately hating everything related to the church. If they have the mind power to read and understand this book, then I feel you must give the child more credit than to assume they’ll be moved to believe something they wouldn’t otherwise. I told LilZ (who really doesn’t even want to read the book) that if anyone questions him for seeing the movie, that he should explain that he has more confidence in his brain that to think a book would sway him one way or another. I have enough confidence in his mind that he won’t make a decision like What To Believe over one book or one movie. It’s not that mindless of a decision and he’s not that blissfully ignorant.

In Conclusion: I Enjoyed the Book and Will See the Movie But I Don’t Think LilZ Will Because He Finds Fantasies Boring Which Means The One Person Who Wouldn’t Care If Her Kid Was An Atheist Doesn’t Have To Worry
I really liked the book. And while I read it to make sure it wasn’t ANTI-religion, I ended up getting very into it. I can not wait to pick up the second book. And I think the movie looks brilliant. I’m sure it won’t do the book justice, but I’m just excited. It’s an adventure story. Pure and simple. The girl who leads the story is a fantastic character full of life and not at all girly. She’s strong and will to do what’s right over what is easy. She learns to trust those she loves, and learns that there are no limits to her own strength. She is a great character and I would adore it if any daughter of mine would see her as a heroine she could aspire to be.

Now…what do you think?