Over the course of the last twenty three years, I have absorbed more stories than I can remember. I have laughed and cried at so many masterpieces, that it was very hard to narrow them down to just a few. Here are the Top Five Stories that have impacted my path as a writer and shaped me as a person.
#5 Shark Tale (2004)
Shark Tale is about a big dreaming fish named Oscar who lies about killing Frankie, the son of the big shark mob boss, Don Lino. He befriends Lenny, a vegetarian shark on the run, and together they come up with an elaborate plan to keep Oscars new title as “The Shark Slayer” in tact and help Lenny start a new life undercover. This story takes place in The Southside Reef, a city that is basically New York City underwater and is full of hilariously placed nods to well known brands such as Gap being changed to Gup.
This movie made my list because DreamWorks took the basic story of a guy who wants to live “on top of the reef” and transformed it into a script that was so memorable, I have quoted it in my daily life since I walked out of the theater in 2004. The comedic timing in this movie is a guideline for how I shape comedy into my own works and the music used throughout the scenes aids me in understanding how to establish tone. The monologue that the shrimp has when they are in the restaurant is one of the first monologues I learned in my career and I still use to this day.
Shrimp Monologue
#4 Legend of Zelda- Twilight Princess (2006)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess follows a young boy named Link who is destined to be the hero that saves Hyrule from being cast into an dark, alternate dimension called the Twilight Realm. With the help of his friend Midna, a twilight creature that helps Link navigate in his wolf form as well as all of Hyrule, the duo set out to find the Fused Shadows, fight monsters sent by Zant, and ultimately defeat Ganondorf to save Princess Zelda and the kingdom of Hyrule.
Though “Twilight Princess” has recently been outshined by the stunning and highly acclaimed “Breath of the Wild”, it has made my list because it was the first video game that I ever finished from beginning to end. I spent hours on end playing this game, unable to put it down until I was unable to keep my eyes open. The story turned me for loop after loop and impacted my desire for suspense when crafting my stories. “Twilight Princess” gave me inspiration in a time of my life when everything else seemed to go wrong. It was the ultimate escape that has inspired me to create my own worlds that I hope can be “the ultimate escape” for someone else who needs it.
Cutscene from Twilight Princess
Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
Avatar: The Last Airbender takes place in a world where people can bend the elements; water, earth, fire, and air. It follows a twelve year old boy named Aang who was asleep in an iceberg for 100 years and just so happens to be the Avatar, a person who can bend all four elements. With the help of his friends Katara, a water bender from the South Pole, her brother Sokka, the strategist of the group, and Toph, a run away earth bender, Aang must learn to master all four elements and fight the Fire Lord before Sozans Comet at the end of the summer or the fire nation will rule over the world.
Avatar: The Last Airbender was an animated series that came out on Nickelodeon when I didn’t have cable and was introduced to me by a very dear friend years after it was off the air. This show is on my list because it changed my life. In my opinion, the writers of Avatar have mastered the art of storytelling and have created a world that I never want to end. Their characters are rich with growth and layers that make me both laugh and cry. The words of Uncle Iroh are lessons I take to heart and apply in my life. When I was younger, I was so invested in the Avatar world that I began writing fan fiction stories so the story could continue. I aim to write my characters with as much maturity, depth, and laughter as Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino wrote in Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Wisdom from Uncle Iroh
#2 My Hero Academia (Boku No Hero Academia) (2016- )
My Hero Academia (Boku No Hero Academia) follows young Izumi Midoriya as he embarks on his quest to become the next number one hero. In this world where 90% of the population has some type of unique power called quirks, Izumi Midoriya enrolls in the top school in Japan that shapes young kids into becoming pro heroes; UA High. Guided by the current number one hero, All Might, and rivaled by an infamous villain, Tomura Shigaraki, Midoriya must learn how to harness his powers and grow at UA and ultimately become the number one hero.
My Hero Academia is near and dear to my heart and is my sole focus on Saturday mornings. It was first introduced to me by my then boyfriend/now fiancée at a time in my life when I had a very dark outlook towards the world and no interest in anime as an art form. My Hero Academia opened me to a whole new world of story telling and has expanded my skill past novel writing. From the visuals to the script of every story arch and movie, My Hero Academia is one of the few shows that make me feel so much emotion in a single episode I have been brought to the extremes of hysterically crying at a characters death. I went to the movies to watch the new movie “Heroes Rising” this past weekend and was so overwhelmed with emotion I had to physically stop myself from screaming out and cheering. That kind of power and connection is what I hope to achieve with my work and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be a true artist.
My Hero Academia Opener 6
#1 Once Upon A Time Series (2011-2018)
The Once Upon A Time series starts in the quiet town of Storybrook, Maine. Here we follow Emma Swan, an orphaned girl with a troubled past, led by Henry, the adopted child of the mayor, in a wild quest to return the memories of the residents of Storybrook that are actually fairy tale characters trapped in the real world. This leads to endless quests, twists, and turns that make Once Upon A Time a show worth remembering.
The Once Upon A Time series is, to me, the granddaddy of all storytelling. It is the ultimate example of taking something as simple as well known heroes and villains, throwing everything you know about them out the window, and creating such an intricate storyline that ties everything together in a way that you cannot help but fall in love with. This show helped me see past the simple title of hero and villain and showed me how to bend the rules to create something no one would ever expect. I find it so hard to explain the story line to others because one character turns out to be several characters revealed over time. Rumplestiltskin’s character alone is a masterpiece. Even though the writers took a very long time to find a proper button for this magnificent work, this show is everything I want my writing to be and more. From the intricate detail of the characters to the elaborate world they weave to the actors the brought the characters to life, it is no question that this show deserves the number one spot on my list.
Behind the Scenes of Rumplestiltskin
Bonus! The Secret 6th Choice that shares the #1 Spot (Basically The Essence of Who I Am)
When creating the Top 5 Choices, I found myself struggling with leaving out one particular show that has impacted me as a person and a storyteller. This choice falls off the list because it is more than a show to me, it is the essence of who I am.
The Ultimate #1 Choice Kim Possible The Series (2002-2007)
Kim Possible follows the story of teen hero Kim Possible who lives in Middletown. Cheerleading captain by day, crime fighter after cheer practice, Kim and her best friend Ron Stoppable travel the world day by day as they battle not only fierce villains but the overwhelming drama of high school.
Kim Possible is without a doubt my favorite show from my childhood. Kim Possible was my idol growing up and having watched the show from beginning to end as an adult, I can say with confidence that this show is a true gem. With subtle character development, impeccable whit and a storyline that keeps true to it continuity even after the break between season three and four, Kim Possible is the kind of TV Animation that kids need on Saturday mornings. Kim Possible gave me confidence at a young age and made me feel like “I could do anything.” Analysing villain characters such as Dr. Drakken, Shego, Professor Dementor, and Monkey Fist has given me a chance to play with character development in my own stories and add humor to otherwise serious and predictable characters. I aim to make characters as memorable as Kim and Ron and keep them close when writing my own worlds of fantasy.
Best Song from Kim Possible
