I think the one thing I should mention regarding this week’s update is that we’re covering a Christmas movie in the middle of July. Like, literally in the middle of July. I’ll do in detail about that on my review of “Klaus”, but about the process of the drawing there’s not much to say about it, honestly. These two, being Ma Hooffield and Big Daddy McColt, are two of my favourite secondary characters in MLP. Not only are they a great inversion of this sort of trope, but their designs are great, and they have relatively simple yet complete character arcs. Drawing them for the first time, I don’t think I made them justice. It was great we got to see Big Daddy McColt a couple more times before Gen 4 ended, but it sucks Ma Hooffield got the cold shoulder.
 
Emotionally depressed Movie Slate is fun to draw. She pulled her Santa hat out of the occasion, and speaking of Santa…
 
“Klaus” is the best movie with the worst ending that I’ve ever seen. I think I should start explaining. This movie went under my radar the year it came out and I only watched it a few months after the fact. I knew little to nothing about it, other than everyone was raving on and on about how good it was, and how groundbreaking it was, and all that good stuff. I put it on and watched it, didn’t take me long to get into it because the animation and art direction are unbelievable. It doesn’t feel like a modern movie, hell not even a movie but one of those really well done shorts you see on YouTube but extended over an hour and a half (it actually reminds me of “Kittbull” come to think of it). The voice acting is also spot on, everyone does an excellent job. Their interpretation of the mythology of Santa Claus is also super interesting, even nuanced since it’s taken from the perspective of communication, a theme that stays throughout the entire movie. All these aspects are so good and so well executed, that it kills me to have to write the next paragraph.
 
The moment the movie plays up the “Liar Revealed” trope all the way through and to the last consequences, is really frustrating. I hate that it bothers me so much, but I can’t turn it off. For a moment I thought they were messing around with the viewer, but no they aren’t. They play this trope so hard and so direct that it breaks me up. It’s one massive coffee stain on an otherwise perfectly put together essay, and I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t such a bother to me. But everything else is fine! It’s just this goddamn trope that just won’t want to die.
 
“Klaus” plays to its strengths, and even though it crashes into a rather obnoxious cliché, it ends up finding its way to a relatively satisfying resolution, making it one of the most memorable animated movies of 2019. If you’re in need of cheer, give this one a go, you might find something in it that resonates with you.