Tis Time to Cozy Up to Butterfly Tale for Winter Break and Where to Watch

While some parts of the world slow down with the coming of winter, Butterfly Tale is sure to warm anyone’s heart.

Butterfly Tale Movie PosterAvailable to view on Google Play

Vortex Media and Maison 4:3 are thrilled to announce that Sophie Roy’s Butterfly Tale has grossed over $750k across Canada to date. Starring Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law) and Mena Massoud (Evolving Vegan), this movie is an animated feature film for the whole family set along the diverse, picturesque, and ever-changing backdrop of the great monarch butterfly migration. The film features original songs from Shawn Mendes, Johnny Orlando, and Cœur de Pirate.

The first 3D animated feature to be made in the ScreenX format from the pre-production stage, this work will continue to be available on the big screen, charming families across Canada, and for curiousity seekers, it is online for others to view.

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When Disney’s Wish is Very By The Book, You’ll Be Wishing For Something Better

Sometimes we don’t need another Disney Princess to highlight why this studio is loved. One Wish and One Vision is all that’s needed instead of executives saying we don’t need another Fantasia!

MNot every Disney's Wish Movie PosterSpoiler Alert

When the talents working for The House of the Mouse are more interested in introducing more princesses in their animated films than creating stories like Zootopia and Meet the Robinsons, my desire to see Disney’s Wish was not immediate. I’d rather wait for a presentation that’s very out there instead of by the book. And in what I found in this latest mostly celebrates 100 Years of Disney rather try to stand on its own.

I would’ve preferred to see a third movie along the lines of Fantasia to recognise just how old this studio is. Here, the creative team of writers Jennifer Lee and Allison Moore with directors Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn simply explore why the concept of “wishing upon a star” (which is only recognised in a handful of this studio’s films) is important. And when greed gets in the way, King Magnifico (Chris Pine) has to decide on why only one wish matters. This actor’s presence is the only reason I wanted to see this film.

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When Owning Megasets Are A Must; Presenting Our 2023 Holiday Home Video Gift Guide

Sometimes, gifting that pop culture enthusiast in the family is tough, and we got our top new release picks (from this year) on what to give that person!

Godzilla Christmas Tree and Holiday Home Video Gift GuideAnyone searching for a holiday home video gift guide of the godzilla sized home box sets of beloved franchises released this year are in luck! In this year’s edition on what to give that nerd in the family, what I offer is a list of works which I think are must own over others. Most of these major releases are available to purchase now.

There’s only two which will be out very soon, so they should arrive in time for the holiday. What’s offered looks amazing for genre fans and although a few of them are repackaged material, that’s okay since I’m considering anniversary releases too.

To note, each entry is separated out into its own page (please scroll further down to find the next page markers). Presented in alphabetical order are:

ALF- The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition)
Available to order on Amazon

ALF: The Complete Series (Deluxe Edition) + Bundle

Love him or hate him, Alf was part of 80s pop culture!

Everyone’s favourite wise-cracking alien from Melmac, Gordon Shumway — better known to Earthlings as ALF crash-lands onto DVD in this definitive 24-disc collection. The collection includes every episode of this interstellar hit series, restored to their original broadcast length for the first time in 30 years. It also includes the 1996 film Project: ALF starring Martin Sheen, and all 47 episodes of Saturday morning’s ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales! Never has a collection been so out of this world!

This ShoutFactory.com Exclusive includes the NEW DVD release of ALF, an exclusive 18” x 24” rolled poster featuring new artwork, a retro prism sticker, a 7″ vinyl, an enamel pin set, a lunch box, and an authentic Melmac rock.

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Best Dark Horse Comics Reads of November 2023

It was tough to decide on which comic books and trade paperbacks released by Dark Horse Comics would make the November must read list, and what’s presented are titles I’ve actually read from beginning to end!

Dark Horse Comics LogoAs colder nights settle into the Pacific Northwest, instead of regularly heading out to the movies, I’m all tucked in and reading a comic or two. My go to publisher is always Dark Horse Comics, and I turn to Dynamite and IDW after, and when I’m all out, it’s some random manga!

Out of the books I read from this month, I offer my thoughts on these titles:

Avatar: The Last Airbender
Azula in the Spirit Temple

Azula in the Spirit Temple Book Cover

At long last, the work that writer/artist Faith Erin Hicks told me about during Fan Expo Vancouver least year is available to read! All I really knew at the time is that Azula would finally get her solo adventure, and I’m loving it, plain and simple! This story takes a deeper look into this character, warts and all. Although I want to sympathise, what’s presented shows just how tough she’s become.

What’s shown looks at all the skeletons she wants to shove into the closet, and have a conversation with one more time. When they surface yet again, the big question is that will she be able to lock them up again? I won’t say what happens, but had this been made into an episode of the cartoon series, I’d be willing to bet it’d get fans talking.

This comic book creator’s next story is The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer, which already has a listing on Amazon, and that won’t be out until mid next year. It’s terrific she’s a regular writer of these one-shots, and as for what’s next, let’s hope I get some information when I see her again at Terminal City’s finest fandom event.

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Two Shows in One Disc. Spirited Away: Live on Stage, A Blu-ray Review

Spirited Away: Live on Stage could’ve been made better by including the soundtrack like the box set anniversary releases, but that’s okay.

Spirited Away Live on Stage Blu-ray Case
Available to purchase on Amazon USA

GKIDS & Shout! Factory
Released Nov 14, 2023

Anyone who did not catch Spirited Away: Live on Stage can enjoy the best of both versions on home video! Although this release doesn’t contain any bonus features that look at behind the scenes, to have the two shows as played by Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi in the title role, Chihiro, in one single release is a Ghibli fan’s dream release come true.

I wasn’t sure if this film would play in Canada, as locations and dates weren’t offered many weeks in advance. Thankfully, Cineplex eventually added more screenings which included my home town, but I was in Seattle that weekend. I didn’t plan to visit the States just to get my Ghibli fix–it was pure luck that I was at the right place and right time. What was presented at the Regal and where I sat made me feel like I had a front row seat to a live show rather than something broadcasted on a screen. My experience can be read here.

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