Update Blog - 12/30/23 (Patreon)

This is the last Update Blog of 2023. It's weird how time can fly so fast like that. Of course, there wasn't a lot that I've done in terms of work this week because of the holidays and that my time was spent more with my friends and family. Of course, it was a very nice time and I'm really happy with how everything turned out. But in-between all that, I was able to find some time to finish off some work so that I can start getting ready for next month (and technically the new year). And so, for one last time in 2023, let's take a break from the holiday festivities and talk about what I've been doing this week.

- Released my review of Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget: I'll admit that I was always hesitant about the idea of a Chicken Run sequel. As much as I loved the original, I never thought that I needed another one. After watching it for myself to see if there may be something more to it...the movie did not do much for me. Maybe this won't be the most agreeable review I've made because I have seen some people who did genuinely like it, but I can't say I'm one of them. I just find the story to be very dull and comparable to something you'd get from one of Disney's direct-to-home media sequels. I do love the animation and the visuals do the best it can to make the scenes fun to watch, but the writing feels subpar compared to what we had before or even compared to what Aardman would regularly put out. I don't it's bad or anything, but I just find this to be unnecessary.

- Finished the Top 5 Best & Worst Animated Films of 2023: Before Christmas, this was my one worry if I wouldn't be able to get this done on time. It was a challenge alone to have some availability for myself to get this finished and ready for the start of the new year. But soon after the big day, it was finally over. I finished the video and will have it prepared to be uploaded for next week. Honestly, after going through review after review these past few months, this project made me feel excited for what I was creating. Everything I wanted to do and say is all in full display in this with both popular and hot takes featured. I think it's going to make the wait for this feel worth it, especially with some special treats that I've included in the video to make this one big 2023 animation celebration. And when I was done, I even had time to produce some TikTok/ Shorts videos based around it, so I can say that I'm fully prepared for one of my biggest videos in a while.

- Created the next AniMat Watches: Once I had the Top 5 finished and was able to find more time for myself, I decided to do a quick catch up on my schedule by making a new AniMat Watches. I won't say what it is, but safe to say that you probably already know what movie I'll be watching for this one. I've been hyping it up for a while on my podcast and I feel like it's the best time to have it out around the same time as the subject of the Best & Worst of the year is still fresh. I've been saving myself for this moment and it did help to hear the varying opinions about this feature, but at the very least, rather it be fun or awful, let's see if it will give me the materials to make a great video for this next installment of AniMat Watches.

- I was a guest star on Rachel's Reviews for a Retrospect of the 2023 Animated Films: Just before Christmas, I was invited by Rachel of Rachel's Reviews to talk about all the animated features released in 2023. It's been such a long time since I've collaborated with someone on a video, but I can honestly say that I had an amazing time. We had plenty of opinions that we both share and are polar opposites, but it was all fun looking into each of the features and talk about what made it work/not work for us. This honestly gave me the motivation to start thinking about having guest stars again in the podcast and I think I'll put that as part of my new year's resolutions. If you wanna see our collaboration on all the animated films of 2023, check out the video here. Consider it as a little taste of what's to come with the Top 5 ;)

And that should be it for this blog and for the Update Blogs of 2023. That was a crazy year and I'm glad that we were able to go through everything and come out strong. All we have to do now is prepare ourselves for 2024. And with that, I hope that your 2024 will be one that you can make the most out of and have as much of a good time as you can. I know that's what I'm planning on doing! So, until next year...

See ya later, dudes!