Chris Harding, animator, Comic artist and animation fan recently ranted about the misuse and abuse of an artist’s creation by marketing departments who allow that character to be put on every product known to man. As long as it brings in cash, no matter how bad the quality may be what hurts that character’s public opinion and that indirectly influences the creators company public opinion.
In one of his examples he refers to the Disney Princess line by Disney Consumer Products. That ties directly into how and other fans complain the way Disney licenses Jasmine in the Disney Princess line. As I probably wrote earlier I think Disney Consumer Products should market Jasmine, and the rest of the princess gang the way they originally were created. In the case of Jas, Belle and Ariel as strong, kick-ass woman and not as poor little rich girls who are only concerned with make-up and hair. The way Disney Consumer Products view the classic 3 princess but mostly refers to Snow White.

In defense of Snow, she wasn’t afraid to get dirty. She cooked or cleaned for the seven dwarfs. Cinderella was forced to keep that immense house clean and take care of her step-mother and step-sisters alone and un-appreciated. Aurora lived her whole life in the forest walking on bare feet not afraid to get sore and dirty feet. Ariel swims around in the ocean going on all kinds of dangerous adventures willing to give her live under the sea for a whole new world, excuse the puns please. Belle didn’t get dirty in Beauty and the Beast or it’s sequels though I recall her chopping wood in Enchanted Christmas but she a dreamer and wants more in live then living in boring village. Jasmine was also willing to give up her perfect life as the daughter of a powerful and wealthy sultan for a live on the dangerous streets of the city.

It wouldn’t hurt to draw the girls in their original outfits either and draw their faces on-model. Example, those magnets I got a while back Belle and Cinderella are twin sisters. And its the “new” way the princesses are drawn, colorful and with their castle in the background. Compare that to the way they used to be drawn on all the on Ebay

This is why I’m very selective on what I buy from the Disney Princess line, it has to portray Jasmine in an original pose and it has to be functional. Those magnets I bought to use them or that postcard was useful to make a wallpaper of it. When it comes to Aladdin merchandise I follow these guide lines

1 It needs to have a collectors value
2 Be useful/interesting
3 Can’t be too expensive.

This why I don’t buy dolls, no value because I don’t own dolls. not interesed, price tag does not apply because of earlier reasons. But I am willing to spend cash on puzzles/a>, collecters value because I own many, can be put on display, cheap

by otaku_hobbit27 in LJ community d_villians. Jonathan Freeman is the current Cogsworth in Broadway Beauty and the Beast.

The Music Behind The Magic is a rare, expensive and hard to find collector’s item consisting of 4 CD’s with work tapes, demo and final recordings of the music and score from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. In a 66 page included booklet both Alan Menken, Howard’s sister Sarah and the many people Howard and Alan worked with and for including former-high Disney officials, voice actors and the director of Mermaid and Aladdin and many other praise working with Howard Ashman.

While Menken recalls mostly of him and Howard working on Mermaid and Beauty he and Tim mention the cut songs from an early story version of Aladdin.
Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim, Proud of Your Boy , Humiliate The Boy, How Quick they Forget and You Can Count On Me where part of that story idea originally written by Howard Ashman. In that version a younger Aladdin had a bunch of pals he hang out with and he had a mother. The included booklet “The Musical Artistry of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman & Tim Rice” had the only picture of this character. It’s been roaming around the Internet since the late 90’s when it first appeared in the Aladdin Mailing List to the Aladdin-fandom. It wasn’t until years later the Aladdin SE revealed Aladdin’s mother to the general public.

In that early adaptation of the 1001 Arabian Nights tale there were 2 Genies, a Genie of the Lamp and a Genie of the Ring at some point Jafar gets hold of the Ring Genie and uses him against our hero. Alan and Howard and Alan and Tim tried multiple times to make a villain song for Jafar but due to story changes the earlier songs where scarped. In the final version of the film Jafar has only a reprise to Prince Ali. Music Behind the Magic Mentions 3, Humiliate the Boy and Why Me and Master of the Lamp while the December 1992 issue of Entertainment Weekly mentions My Finest Hour and My Time Has Come.

Also worth noting, Howard and Alan attempted at a song for a selfish Princess Jasmine called “Call Me A Princess.” Strangely enough it is the only mention of a song for Jasmine in all the publications regarding the Making of Aladdin. Aladdin has a song and a reprise, Genie has two songs, Jafar has a reprise but Jasmine has nothing besides the movie’s love song in a duet. While it’s understanding the creative team didn’t want to insert a song to introduce Jasmine so soon after One Jump Ahead I personally feel the One Jump Reprise could’ve been combined with a song for Jasmine.

To be continued in The Music Behind the Magic Part 3 : Inspirations and homage’s

What makes Jasmine a heroine is an ongoing discussion at Disneysites. Some say she isn’t because she stood there while Jafar took over Agrabah but others see that as heroism because she didn’t stand a chance again the powerful ruler at that time and waited for the right moment. That came, as we all know, when Aladdin returned. But it was Aladdin who out smarted Jafar and not Jasmine. Personally I think she might eventually find a way to defeat Jafar on her own, but that’s more because I regard Jasmine as a very smart girl then there’s actual proof in the movie. So let’s leave the movie Jasmine for now and move forward to the TV series Jasmine.
I believe because Jas is older, worldlier and the girlfriend of the local hero in the series she is confident to take matters into her own hands. A few situations come to mind.

Her most heroic act is when she defeated Mozenrath single handed by using his magic against him in

The Secret of Dagger Rock. Did she take risks? Some, Mozenrath could’ve killed Aladdin before she let him fall but Aladdin was likely to out run him anyway. Jasmine might’ve died if Mozenrath zapped Carpet in his fall.

Jasmine

defeated that smoke creature by cleaver thinking. She lured him outside the city right above a water well that put out his spark.

Then the situation with the Galifemes who requited Princess Jasmine for their female army Jas escaped twice I believe and when that failed she used the phrase ‘if you can’t defeat them. Join them.’ Jasmine added ‘then defeat them.’ Meanwhile Aladdin was struggling against the female warriors who where too much for the hero of Agrabah. And the Sultan at the end took the spotlight by rescuing his daughter.

Jasmine proved she is a true princess in “Bad Mood Rising” when she was willing to give up her life with Aladdin to stay with that spoiled brat King Mamoud. Lucky for her Aladdin found a way to and take Jasmine back to Agrabah with him and please the king.

Like I said these are only a few examples of Jasmine’s heroism there are more but the examples above proof my point. It’s regretful that Jasmine’s role in the two sequels was smaller and more a damsel-in-distress.

Years ago I taped a Disney on Ice TV show with songs from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. I transferred some footage to my PC and uploaded the songs to my YouTube account this year. I had no idea what the name of the program was just the skating was good specially the Beauty sequence tonight I stumbled on the program again and finally learnt its name Disney Christmas Fantasy On Ice is a made-for-TV ice show with professional (former) Olympic skaters made in 1992. I always suspected the show wasn’t made recently even though it was in the 21th century I saw it.

The premise goes like this a little girl and her uncle visit the Magic Kingdom during the Holiday Season and she wishes it would show in Disneyland. Her uncle tells her a story about how Mickey and friends made it show in Disneyland. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto plus their friends Chip & Dale, Roger Rabit, Snow White, Dopey, Belle and Beast go to Jack Frost who tells them they need the six pieces of a magic snowflake plus a little girls wish to make it snow. In pairs the Disney characters head out into the Ice World. There a cast of highly professional ice skaters perform on ice on various musical pieces from Disney films and Christmas music. Afterwards they give a piece to the characters. At the end of the hour-long show a miracle happens, it snows in Disneyland.

The skaters are

• Kurt Browning
• Brian Boitano
• Peter Carruthers
• Kitty Carruthers
• Ekaterina Gordeeva
• Sergei Grinkov
• Scott Hamilton
• Nancy Kerrigan
• Katarina Witt

Kurt Browing rang a bell, he would play Aladdin in the Disney on Ice TV special Aladdin on Ice 3 years later. The 1995 Aladdin on Ice show also shares the co-producer Sandra Bezic and Micheal Seibelt as choreographer in the credits. However Kurt doesn’t skate on AWNW in Christmas Fantasy on Ice that honor goes to the Ekaterina Gordeeva and her former partner and husband Sergei Grinkov. Who would tragically die 3 years later at the age of 28. Instead on Aladdin’s theme Kurt did a cur on The Nutcracker inspired by Fantasia. The stars of the show are Katarina Witt and Brian Boitano she as Belle and he as Beast/Prince while the “real” Belle and Beast watch them. There’s another video of their performance with better sound then mine though I intend to get the newly recorded up in the future.

Like every Disney on Ice show, Princess Classics opens with Minnie and Mickey. They welcome the audience and introduce the show’s theme. Then Mickey leaves and Minnie skate around 7 male skaters each holding a princess symbol. Genie’s Lamp for Jasmine, Apple for Snow White, Glass Slipper for Cinderella, Sea Shell for Ariel, a sword for Mulan, the enchanted rose for Belle and a spinning wheel for Aurora. Then the skaters and Minnie leave to ice to make room for the first princess.

Jasmine

To my excitement Jasmine is the first princess. After Jasmine expressed her wish to be free the princess of Agrabah left the ice and Aladdin with Abu enters . For the first time in 10.000 giving him a crick in the neck Genie is quickly set free from the lamp. Carpet makes a brief appearance. Apparently the Aladdin and Jasmine meeting had already taken place before the show. Because Aladdin wishes to be a prince. Genie does he thing leaving into the first showstopper of the evening. A superb and catchy Prince Ali showstopper complete with elephant Abu gets the audience in the mood specially the little ones.
When Jasmine is not amused Aladdin turns to Genie from help who tells his young master it’s best to be himself. Naturally Aladdin doesn’t listen and steps on Carpet, a plate connected to the ceiling by wires, lifting him up to Jasmine standing on top of the palace. The palace would transform with each movie passing into that princess castle, when it isn’t needed the castle is hidden behind a round screen. Jasmine is impressed, as she should be, and they go on a carpet ride high above the ice via a rail system. Carpet lands and the couple skate on a slightly altered A Whole New World before boarding Carpet again and disappearing into the castle to make room for Sleeping Beauty.

Aurora

Opening with the three fairies fighting over the color of Aurora’s dress the audience is introduced to this classic movie where Aurora meets Prince Phillip and skate a beautiful cur before she’s put to sleep by the evil Maleficent’s curse.

Ariel

With Aurora sound asleep the show goes under the sea for another showstopper song. Under The Sea with an acrobatic Sebastian next Ariel skates on Part of Your World before seeing Eric. Then Ursula comes on gives Ariel legs and takes her voice. The show skips half the movie and goes right to the point where Eric is about to kiss the mermaid when the sea witch spoils all the fun. Somehow Ariel is cursed a sleeping making room for the next movie.

Mulan and Belle

Mulan who does some fancy skating as Ping and a beautiful cur as herself. The Mulan segment is one of the shortest of the show but not as short as Belle’s. The French girl enters in the dark from behind the tribune close to where I was sitting. Despite the dark I recognized her. She steps onto the ice and performs her cur with Beast. Gaston enters and stabs the poor Beast he escapes up the castle before falling to his death. Beast dies near the central entrance surrounded by smoke to hide the switch effect. The Beast actor leaves to make room for another actor portraying the Prince who hides under a dummy Beast costume. It’s the same technique used in The Beauty and the Beast on Ice show a few years ago.
As usual everyone on the show are solid performers doing all kinds of tricks with ease and grace I don’t see any celebrity do. Great admiration for these people but also the costume department, each princess outfit looks like it comes straight from the movie. All six princesses return at the end of the show as honored guests for Cinderella’s wedding each dressed in gorgeous wedding dresses. The dresses are white versions of their usual outfit except for Belle who wears her yellow dress.

Snow White

The last show sequence before the break is from Snow White. The seven dwarfs do their thing before Snow White performs. Next the prince is introduced, then the queen comes on and asks the famous question to her mirror before leaving. When the Old Hag later offers Snow the apple she asks the audience if she should bite. All the kids yell no but of course the princess doesn’t listen and ends up in a deep sleep. This is almost the end or part 1 but not before all the girls and their partners come together for the final. Starting with Belle and Beast they go to a sleeping Aurora who is awaked by her prince in the right corner close to my seat. Then it’s Ariel’s turn in the left corner and finally Snow White wakes up by the prince at the castle. Joined by Jasmine and Aladdin plus Mulan and Shang the break is announced by Mickey and Minnie.
Cinderella

The whole second half retells Cinderella’s story complete with Evil stepsisters, step-mom, a funny Grand Duke, the mice including Gus and Jaq, the prince, a beautiful performing Cinderella and of course the fairy godmother. As they had more time than the other story’s Cinderella was an extensive re-telling of the classic film including all the songs.

Conclusion

Princess Classics is the best Disney on Ice show I’ve seen in years since I started going to Beauty and the Beast on Ice about 5 years ago. The original Dutch voices where used when possible, the skaters where excellent. I appreciate the skaters even more after watching celebrities struggling on TV for months. In the past the pro’s on Disney On Ice make it all seem to easy even got a bit boring doing the same elements every show. In Princess Classics they kept the spins to a minimum though a few reprises of the layback spin where done by most princesses. I have no idea what all the elements are called and have to look them up. I guess allot are made up for the show but a few I recognized . For example Aladdin and Jasmine did a very low and fast Death Spiral and she was lifted high a few times. The other girls did similar elements each princess having her own unique element with her prince. In conclusion I regret Disney On Ice is only once a year. I love to go two or three times throughout the year. On the other hand I’ve something to look forward to and be excited about for next year. Truly magical I’m going to watch the big six princess movies this Christmas. I already saw Snow White and Cinderella today. Tomorrow Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid ending the 26th with Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.

I’m going Saturday! I’ve been looking forward to this years Disney on Ice for a whole year! Spits! makes a small notice today.

I get many hits from people who are coloring pages in one way or another. While I can’t provide more myself, the rare Princess coloring books I saw in stores either don’t carry Jasmine or include boring standard artwork of our arabian beauty. ZZZZZZZZZ. But my motto regarding Aladdin is, you ask we deliver, if possible.

So before reading my rant about the quality of coloring pages check out the following posts with coloring pages first, that’s why you clicked on this link in the first place right.

Magic Carpet Ride Black and white

DPM issue 08-2006 coloring page

I crossed paths with coloring-book.info. They have a whole page with 53 Aladdin coloring pages ranging from good to hideous. There are hundreds of websites that carry coloring pages so why did I choose to promote coloring-book.info. Because yes that site has the usual crap coloring pages such as Jasmine with feathers and Jasmine looking weird in her garden but it also has black and white images I’ve not seen before such as Aladdin and Jasmine on the rooftop and Jasmine’s mirror reflection plus 5 or 6 new coloring pages. At least I haven’t seen them before.

As with all coloring pages at Streetrat these are high quality pictures To print them click the thumbnail then use the brower’s printer function to print it. Normally that means clicking right and selecting “print picture”
Ugly

Nice

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve made a list of my Dutch language Aladdin series collection I recorded over the years. I’ve 13 tapes with 1 to 5 episodes the oldest episodes are dating back to 1996. I know this because the channel most episodes where taped from changed their name that year. Minus the doubles I’ve exactly 50 episodes in my native tongue that I much more than the 30 or so I expected to have. I’ve to note that some episodes are missing parts at the beginning and end but not much ranging from a few seconds to about a minute. I needed that list in order to figure out how many DVD’s I needed to fit them on in the uncompressed MPEG format a standard DVD is composed off.
Well I came out at 9 DVD’s with 3 to 6 episodes each and am currently designing covers for them. They aren’t state of the art but I’m not a very good designer something I regret once in a while.

I’m doing this project because for one simple reason, no official series DVD is to be expected from Disney. When the Aladdin series finally gets a DVD release I know the Disney Company only will do a for region 1 release and only with the English soundtrack. Hopefully Aladdin returns on TV next year and I can add the missing episodes to my collection.

Disney never really marketed Aladdin with Christmas logically because unlike fairy tales set in Europe the Agrabarians don’t celebrate Christmas. On one hand that’s a miss but on the other hand it makes what is available extra special.

Back when Aladdin was still hot at Disney Marketing they licensed Sierra Leone to make a series of eight Aladdin Christmas stamps in 1997. I purchased six of them years ago through Ebay. They have been stored away for years until someone mentioned them again, that gave me the idea to scan them. Behold number one,

A Carpet Full of Christmas, Greetings from Aladdin and Jasmine