Episode Review: Star vs The Forces of Evil (Season 1, Episode 3 ) – Monster Arm / The Other Exchange Student

The second episode of Star vs the Forces of Evil, attempted to focus on the microcosm of Star Butterfly’s life amid the students of Echo Creek Academy. With Episode 3, we get some more character insight, along with plenty of magical shenanigans.

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– Monster Arm –

Marco’s karate dojo has an upcoming tournament, in which Marco will face off with a rich combatant named Jeremy Birnbaum. However, Marco gets carried away while training, and breaks his right hand.

Marco convinces Star to use her magic wand to heal his hand, but her spell-casting goes horribly wrong, and leaves Marco with a tentacle instead of his right arm!

Monster Arm differs from the earlier episodes, in that it moreso focuses on Marco, with Star taking on more of a supporting role. It’s nice to see Marco react to the situations he has found himself in, but we also get to see him almost become a different person when he realizes this new appendage can give him an advantage (and even impresses the students at school when it beats back a bully!).

We even get some additional lore regarding Star’s family wand, given that it comes with a tome of an instruction manual. The episode also provides examples of how specific one’s verbiage has to be while using the wand. Apparently, being off in your pronunciation by a smidgen, can be both a good and a bad thing (but most of the time, a bad thing!).

Voice actor Corey Burton also provides a fun, deep-voiced role that is a nice little surprise. I can’t help but think that this segment will be the first introduction of the word “bowels” to many young people, given his character’s role.

It doesn’t get as dramatic as I prefer, but Monster Arm is probably one of the most fun segments I’ve seen so far, which pushes it above the normal B-territory most of these segments have fallen into. Also notable, is that the episode ends with an intriguing-yet-unsettling coda, that one wonders if we’ll see resolved in future episodes.

Final Segment Grade: A-

Best Star Butterfly line from segment: “Then I gotta come here, and watch him, Kah-RAH-Tey!”

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– The Other Exchange Student –

Ever since Star arrived on Earth, Marco’s family has celebrated each and every day that she has been with them. Prior to Star’s arrival, the Diaz family has been taking in exchange students for quite some time, and everyone is surprised when a former Scandinavian exchange student named Gustav, shows up on the Diaz’s doorstep with souvenirs, and plans to stay with them for a few weeks.

Needless to say, Star is a little jealous about being bumped to ‘exchange student #2’ status in the Diaz household, but soon, she begins to wonder if there’s more to Gustav than he’s letting on…

Probably not since the first episode, have we gotten this much time with Marco Diaz’s parents. However, there isn’t really that much to them, except being very happy-go-lucky in their demeanor. Even Marco seems to adopt this attitude for much of the episode.

Those who have seen cartoons, can probably see the “something’s not right” angle towards Gustav and his ways, which is a given in some cartoon plots when a new character arrives on someone’s doorstep. The writers do manage to tweak the formula a bit, but it’s a little predictable regarding the outcome of the episode. Though just łike Monster Arm, there are some things that are not resolved by the end.

In the role of Gustav, voice actor Rob Paulsen manages to have some fun with his accented role, pitching around his voice for the various situations.

Star for the most part, spends most of the episode not being as happy as she normally is. It’s a little fun at times to see characters have to deal with unwelcome situations, allowing us to see how they handle something uncomfortable. It’s very similar to how I felt with Pinkie Pie in the My Little Pony episode, “Party of One,” where the character had to shut down from being a little scatter-brained, and became analytical.

In Monster Arm, we saw Star exasperated from lack of sleep as she attempted to help Marco. Here, we get a little more of that, along with a rather obsessive angle to her going on a fact-finding mission. I will admit, hearing Eden Sher voice Star as she unravels, is a fun little treat. It does seem a double-edged sword regarding how Star acts: on one hand, she seems jealous over the attention that Gustav is receiving, but on the other hand, she is also concerned for the well-being of Marco and his family.

The episode also serves as a nice little respite from Ludo and his minions (though one makes a brief cameo), by showing that even suburbia can house its own problems for Star Butterfly. Though intriguing at times, it never deviates far enough from the formulaic ‘stranger at the front door’ storyline, to really make me love it more.

Final Segment Grade: B-

Best Star Butterfly line from segment: “YOU’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!!”

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In conclusion, Episode 3 is probably the best full episode so far. I like how both segments focus mainly on Star and Marco on earth, with no dimensional villains like Ludo. Here, we get to see Star and Marco deal with problems in their own way in Monster Arm, and then get to see Star handle a human “outsider,” in The Other Exchange Student.

Of all the segments, Monster Arm is the one I’ve probably seen a few dozen times. The story and animated emotions just seem so entertaining to me. I personally feel that if you’re looking to get someone hooked on this series, it’s a must-show segment.

*Coming up in Episode 4, Marco works on cheering up Star when something doesn’t go as she would like. Following that, the two end up in a dimensional store, questing for a specific item for Star’s magic wand. What wonders/craziness will unfold? We’ll find out soon enough.*

Season 1, Episode 4 – *Cheer Up, Star/Quest Buy*

Episode Review: Star vs The Forces of Evil (Season 1, Episode 4 ) – Cheer Up, Star/Quest Buy

4 episodes in, and I can’t believe I’ve become hooked on DisneyXD’s new series, Star vs The Forces of Evil. The adventures of Princess Star Butterfly and earthling Marco Diaz, has already captivated me with its hand-drawn animation, emotionally engaging characters, and storylines that are just weird enough without being too ridiculous. In fact, it’s worked so well, that I’m intending to review every single episode for the rest of Season 1. Personally, I can’t recall the last time an animated series has claimed me as a fan almost from the very beginning.

Episode 4 brings us two segments, entitled Cheer Up, Star, and Quest Buy. So let’s jump right in to gauge my thoughts on these segments.

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– Cheer Up, Star –

The episode starts with Star and Marco already being attacked by Ludo and his monster army. However, Star is perplexed as to just how/why Ludo is attacking them. Marco then explains the events that led to their current predicament: a twisted, sticky, heartbreaking tale that involved ‘the worst day ever,’ fish, musicians with records, and…”Space Unicorns.”

I will give the writers credit for throwing us halfway into the story, and then back-tracking to the beginning. Marco’s ‘worst day ever’ is pretty by-the-book, but Star’s fascination with a young musician named Oskar is rather cute, as she hopes he’ll call her (though on Marco’s cellphone). Composer Brian H Kim ups the ‘feels’ with a wonderful little music-box piece as Star waits by her phone. I was always enthralled by little emotional moments like these in other cartoons, and this one here definitely helped sway my feelings for the episode.

As well, there’s some fun little comedic moments, where we see both Marco and Star trying to cheer each other up regarding their sad moods during the segment. I’m not the easiest person to make laugh, but I actually found these comedy moments amusing, and a few of them are still stuck in my head. That’s what sold me on the story: the little things the characters do. I’m sure the storyboard artists were a major help in realizing a lot of what made this episode entertaining.

Speaking of little things, Eden Sher really adds an extra dimension with what she does with Star’s voice. From her trembling sigh thinking about Oskar, to her annoyance at being interrupted during a phone call.

Much like the episode School Spirit, this one plays around with Star’s foreign naivete, with her misunderstanding that Oskar has “a record.” There’s also a fun little callback to the 2nd episode’s segment titled Match Maker, in that we briefly see Star’s “F-” test paper as she waits for Oskar to call.

Marco’s parents are nowhere to be found in the episode, but a fun little game for repeat viewers, is to examine all the odds and ends in their backyard shed. There’s quite a few art supplies in there…including an animation disc! Someone on Twitter even wondered: were Marco’s parents former animators?

A fun item that may stick in most peoples heads, is the ringtone on Marco’s phone: the song Space Unicorn, by Parry Gripp. Much like Everything is Awesome is to The LEGO Movie, I could see Space Unicorn really becoming associated with the show very soon, given its catchy and fun-sounding nature.

Final Segment Grade: B+

Best Star Butterfly line from segment: *laughing* “I’m in a fish!”

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– Quest Buy –

When Star loses the charger to her magic wand, she and Marco make a dimensional jump to the maze-like Quest Buy, a labyrinthine store that has everything…even a run-in with Ludo and his gang on a shopping excursion.

The concept of a magic wand needing power (albeit, magical power), is a rather fun gag to go on, though they do try to add a ticking clock mechanism to the plot, claiming the wand will forever cease to function without a charge. I guess we can just assume Star’s parents and ancestors were just more careful with keeping the wand powered up?

This is also the first episode since Party with a Pony, where we’ve found ourselves in another dimension. I must admit, I LOVE the concept of Quest Buy, which is like a neverending CostCo/Best Buy/Fry’s Electronics/etc with very little information on where to find anything…which is how most of those stores are in real life! The dilemma of finding the right charger for Star’s wand, reminded me of this past December, when my Dad and I found ourselves looking over dozens of HDMI cables, unsure which would be the right one for his TV and Blu-Ray player.

It’s also fun to see Ludo and his minions also attempting to just be ordinary, everyday creatures doing daily things. We get a few little jokes here-and-there in Quest Buy as well, notably regarding the nonchalant “sloths” working the floor that provide little assistance (“that’s not my department”).

There’s also a little subplot about messiness vs orderliness, though luckily it doesn’t get too front-and-center. It’s definitely one of several items that pop up but don’t overstay their welcome.

The episode is also one of the first where Star’s magic wand is unable to get her and Marco out of a tight spot, leaving the two to work together with their strengths and mental powers.

Though it is entertaining, the episode does feel a tad rushed in places. Star and Marco encounter a Sphinx and even booby-traps, but one can’t help but feel that the concept of being lost in a maze-like store might have been better suited for a full 22-minute episode. After all, for a place called Quest Buy, one can only imagine the kinds of madness its customers encounter. Then again, whose to say we might not find ourselves back in this dimension for another crazy purchase in the future?

Final Segment Grade: B

Best Star Butterfly line from segment: “It’s possessed…I’m gonna touch it…”

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In conclusion, Episode 4’s segments were a pretty entertaining duo. On one hand, we got to see some emotion between Star and Marco with Cheer Up, Star. And on the other end, we visited another of the myriad dimensions this series has to offer, with Quest Buy.

*Coming up in Episode 5, Star Butterfly brings the Diaz family to her home world of Mewni, and ends up attending a Birthday Party for Echo Creek Academy’s head-cheerleader, Brittney Wong. What wonders/craziness will unfold? We’ll find out soon enough.*

Season 1, Episode 5 – *Diaz Family Vacation / Brittney’s Party*

An Animated Dissection: Thoughts on Star Vs The Forces of Evil

Let’s face it, a lot of animation that comes out of Japan has permeated into our culture, and caused many of us to look beyond the notable mainstays of our own native lands of North America, and what its animation landscape is (which in retrospect, is rather limited when it comes to certain realms of imagination).

One of the more popular tropes of Japanese Anime, has been the one dubbed “Magical Girl.” Oftentimes, this trope involves an otherworldly girl, who comes to Earth with magic powers or weapons, and a slew of strange and otherworldly instances or creatures, that seem intent on destroying her, or the Magical Girl’s new homeworld. This trope has been seen in the past, in such series as Sailor Moon, Urusei Yatsura, and Ah! My Goddess.

These series have often been thought of fondly by many, and have inspired many of today’s artists. If you saw or enjoyed these shows, you might find yourself surprised by the new DisneyXD series, Star Vs The Forces of Evil.

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In the dimensional Kingdom of Mewni, teenage princess Star Butterfly, is finally of age to obtain her royal family’s prized wand…however, it doesn’t take long before her over-excited and bubbly nature, causes plenty of chaos (it doesn’t help that she also likes to fight monsters). Rather than do something productive and talk to their daughter, her parents decide to send her to Earth so she can “train,” but most likely an excuse to keep her out of their hair.

After enrolling her in a local school in Echo Creek (which I’m assuming is in California), Star is placed with the Diaz Family, whose son Marco is given the task of showing her around, and getting her acclimated to her new home(world).

 

Character-wise, I expected the worst from Star Butterfly, but the writers have actually managed to balance her out pretty well. While she can get over-excited at times, she doesn’t mean to be a bubbly force of destruction (most of the time). She has her little moments of quiet, as well as understanding if something doesn’t quite work out properly. Eden Sher’s vocals are definitely a little different than what I expected from the pictures of Star. Instead of being typically high, Eden’s voice hits at a mid-level, which took me a little while to warm up to. However, she definitely nails a lot of the little ‘manic’ and expressive moments for Star so well, that the voice started to grow on me.

The show writers also have fun regarding the different ways that Star calls up her attacks. They’re often randomly combined words that seem to unleash powers and abilities one wouldn’t consider (like “Syrup Tsunami Shockwave”). Of course, some she doesn’t pronounce properly, or understand their meanings…which can lead to funny scenarios with a little chaos thrown in. And just like a person from another country, there’s plenty of opportunities for verbal misunderstandings, that can lead to intriguing stories.

Marco Diaz serves as a fun counterpoint to Star. Though considered “the safe kid,” Marco is mainly a guy who likes order at times, but also seems to thirst for a little adventure…which he seems to have gotten in spades. I do like what Adam McArthur brings to Marco voice-wise. He really nails both the highs and lows of the character’s emotional moments.

Some of what has happened so far, reminds me of why I loved the anime/manga series, Urusei Yatsura. That series also had a magical girl (a green-haired, bikini-wearing alien princess named Lum), but one who, like Star, would often dabble in things that seemed a combination of magic, and Science Fiction. That’s definitely the case in a few scenarios I’ve seen so far. A great example are ‘dimensional scissors,’ which allows one to snip open a hole into other dimensions.

And much like Urusei, Star’s presence seems to definitely invite the weird and the strange to come forth, and change around Marco’s average little life…which definitely helps, as he seems more than ready to jump into some of the adventures Star drags him into.

Watching the show, the art style feels like a fan-crazed mashup of several different series, such as Sailor Moon, Ren & Stimpy, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, and The Powerpuff Girls (to name a few). Plus, what I thought would be cheaply-done animation, isn’t the case here. There’s some wonderful little bits of animation follow-through in some actions within the show, and some amazingly subtle little touches here and there. Those with an eye for such things I feel, will appreciate the little touches.

The show gets some high marks from me, on also not trying to push Star and Marco into ‘immediate couples territory.’ Both characters have other characters they have an interest in, and it is refreshing to see the two playing off each other in certain scenarios, as just being “friends.” As well, both are able to handle things pretty well on their own, with each fighting their own battles if need be (Marco knows karate). That ability for both Marco and Star to be on a level playing field, is also a great concept, and at times, reminded me a little of the adventures of Kim Possible, and Ron Stoppable.

The dynamic of the blonde-haired/blue-eyed girl being the “foreign particle” in the Diaz family is also a fun way of shaking up social norms. Luckily (so far), we haven’t had some crazy ex-government guy who wants to expose Star as some alien girl and take away her wand. My one hope is that the majority of future stories will continue to largely be accepting of Star, as if a girl with a magic-spewing wand is just an everyday thing. After all, that was often the norm in most anime series.

In regards to “The Forces of Evil” as mentioned in the show’s title, the series wastes no time in giving us the evilly diminutive bird-creature named Ludo, and his strange army of thuggish monsters. Maybe one day we’ll know just how Ludo set his sights on trying to take down Star, but for now, we’re just in-the-know that he mainly wants her family wand for his own nefarious purposes.

Of course, what would an adventuresome romp through dimensions and monster fights be, without some catchy music? Composer Brian H Kim is the main music man on the series, and he infuses the episodes with the kind of action-packed, yet emotional music that is sure to hit just the right spot for anime-soundtrack lovers. Brian has even posted musical cues from the show on his Tumblr site, which allows one to really hear how he tends to give each episode its own unique flavor.

As of the writing of this blog posting, only 4 episodes have been release for Star Vs The Forces of Evil. However, the storylines and structure have me eager to see just where they can take the series.

As well, most shows these days either run a full 22 minutes, or are split up into two 11-minute segments. Star is a show that has gone the 11-minute route, and manages to handle fitting its stories into these time allotments quite well. Some shows feel severely truncated when placed in these time restrictions, but this show manages to get in and get out with plenty of time to spare regarding some of the story plots. One has to wonder if in the future, maybe some stories will get bigger, and require a full 22-minutes.

With word that a second season has already been approved, I may find myself reviewing Season 1 overall when the dust has settled. Given how the series has been received so far, it’s possible it could be a huge hit for Disney, on the same level as Gravity Falls.

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Final Grade: B+

Final Thoughts: Star Vs The Forces of Evil is just wild and weird enough to be a new series that can play by its own rules, though not quite as much of an open playing field as Adventure Time.The main characters are definitely likable, and play off of each other quite well, with stories that can take place with Star and Marco working together, or on differing storylines. As well, the worlds and concepts provide plenty of opportunities for visiting new worlds, or for having some of Star’s interplanetary friends drop by. As outlined in the paragraphs above, I also feel it hits that sweet spot for those who love anime and manga.