SM Cartoon Fest: Every kid's dream come true

Once upon a time, we dreamed of a magical world filled with princes and princesses, talking animals and spirits of the forest, heroes and villains. We joined in their wonderful adventures and discovered new lessons, made new friends and discovered new places. We were 10 years old, and wished we could pass through that TV screen and hug and play with such dear friends. And our wish was granted.

SM Supermalls made every kid's dream come true as they launched the biggest jamboree of 38 cartoon characters in 44 malls nationwide at the SM City Fairview Annex Atrium last April 12. Perfect for kids and kids-at-heart, the SM Cartoon Fest brought our childhood cartoon characters to life and offered exciting activities like face painting, cartoon film showings, craft shows, scrapbook making and raffle prizes.

I became the 10-year-old kid again clapping and shouting with joy as they presented every character on stage. We all went wild as they first featured the Angry Birds, and wished we could throw the birds live with a real slingshot. Awarded as the Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year and Best Character/Toy Brand Program of the Year in 2012, Angry Birds is truly a global game phenomenon that kids will always want to play.

Meet the Minions, Gru's loyal but mischievous glow-in-the-dark sidekicks who first appeared in Chris Melendandri's Despicable Me. Produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, the movie will be followed by a second installment with another comic and heartwarming adventure and will be in theaters on July 3.

Vamonos! The kids all shouted as they cheered for Dora the Explorer, the much-loved character who helps us improve our English and Spanish language skills.

Better hide your lasagna; Garfield is on the move. I still remember collecting Garfield comics from the newspapers watching the Garfield movie with Jon and Odie. Thanks to Jim Davis, Garfield shares the laughter and the lasagna with 200 million people in 110 countries every day.

Tom and Jerry joined the jamboree and after another cat-and-mouse chase on stage finally hugged each other and became friends. We have truly enjoyed Tom and Jerry's adventures even without dialogue; even my 7-year-old Japanese cousin loves to watch them all day long.

The 1970's Sesame Streetclub--Elmo who taught us the alphabet, Cookie Monster who helped us solve number problems and Bert and Ernie who helped us develop critical skills also paid a visit to the kids and kids-at-heart.

Dare to be Square. Nickelodeon's Spongebob Squarepants took a day off from his work at the Crusty Crab and danced and played with the kids at the SM Annex Atrium.

Lorax, DC Comics Heroes Green Lantern, Hello Kitty, Batman, Robin and Superman, Hop, Loony Toons' Tweety Bird and Sylvester, Robby Rabbit, Monster High, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Polly Pocket and Barbie Ballerina completed the 38 cartoon characters showcased in the SM Summer Cartoon Fest.

Supported by Bates/Nickelodeon, Richprime, Pacific Licensing, Honeybarn, Solar Entertainment, FCI, Click Licensing and Astroplus/Magnavision among others, SM Cartoon Fest is a summer-long festival which ends on May 31. Special discounts are also available for character items and toys. Visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/supermalls for more updates and promos.

MOVIE ON STORM: From the simplest dreams to consolation prizes at Tangled

Adventure starts with our itch to reach our dreams. Grabbing our "wishes-come-true" would be our winning trophies; everything and everyone we meet on the way are valuable consolation prizes.

Take another good look at Rapunzel in Walt Disney's Tangled, the modified story of the boorish life of our Tower Lady. After unexpectedly (as always) bumping into a handsome bandit visitor (Flinn Rider), Rapunzel's life took its way to a whole new adventure to her neighborhood forest she never "personally" knew.

We girls have all loved that blond as Barbie and as that classical storybook princess. In this version though, all she dreamed of was to personally see the glowing balloon lanterns of the nearby village on her 18th birthday. And from the purest and simplest dreams I believe, eventually comes Prince Charming, a sensitive rescue horse, and all that unexpected allies ready to launch their rockets.

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM?

You name it. That typical house and lot (with 25 years to pay)? A Prince Charming you know very well doesn't exist in this dim-witted world? How about simply seeing balloon lanterns light up the night sky? Or maybe owning a duck farm forever-miles away from civilization? I was taught by my mentor Ms. Josephine Bonsol to realize the simplest things and pleasures in life that are yet to be extinct in the human mind. They come with a better and more peaceful existence.

VALUABLE CONSOLATION PRIZES

It's all typical in the history line of Happily-Ever-After's: the lovey-dovey romance is always highlighted and most anticipated by many; even with a few inconsistent expeditions just so to make the story long. But I believe Prince Charming is but the consolation prize for our Rapunzel. What should be emphasized and endorsed more is her simple dream she waited for 18 years coming true.

MOVIE RATING: 3 STARS

Taking into account our Disney princess surpassed our young wizard in Hogwarts (ending a 3-day weekend as the top grosser with $21.5M), it was as equally appealing specially for the youth (with all that kilig factor).

But the angle on romance in Tangled was all too classical with a few escapades Destiny had obviously knitted for them. Boy gets into trouble, then asks the damsel in distress to let down her hair, girl follows boy, they fall in love, stepmom barges in, and the grand finale ends up with church bells ringing and the whole kingdom rejoicing for the newly-wed couple.

But I must admit I saw a little twist in the climax part where Flinn was dying because of the evil stepmom, then stereotype followed with a grim but romantic kissing scene, but then instead of this, he only inched his way close to Rapunzel's hair to cut it to beat all the evil in the world. You would then realize dear stepmom was keeping Rapunzel for her own beauty nourishment.

At least there was a little comedy lesson for all of us with respect to the movie: we are always brought somewhere not because of Fate or Destiny, but because of a HORSE, or any transportation for that matter.

"Something brought you here. Call it what you want: fate, destiny..."

"A HORSE."

WHO'S BEHIND RAPUNZEL?

1. The Brothers Grimm officially invented Rapunzel and the "Let down your hair" dialogue. Also a German fairy tale, it was first published in 1812 as part of the Children's and Household Tales.

2. The word "Rapunzel" is actually a rampion radishes or lamb's lettuce in the original story. It exactly tells of Rapunzel's mother craving for the vegetable at the point of her death,  then making her younger again. The husband searched for it but an enchantress (Rapunzel's stepmom) named Dame Gothel accused him of theft, saying he could go but he would have to surrender his child to her.

3. There are many versions of the story: one led to a tragedy where Rapunzel was punished by Gothel and left her in the woods to fend for herself. Her Prince Charming fell in a sea of thorns after being set-up and ended up blind.