Z is for Zeng

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Zeng - "Kung Fu Panda"

THE STORY: Po is a goofy, lazy. gluttonous panda with a heart of gold. He loves Kung Fu and aspires to be a Kung Fu warrior. His dream comes true when he is chosen as the Dragon Warrior. With the help of the Furious Five - Tigris, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey, Po defeats the vengeful snow leopard Tai Lung.

ABOUT ZENG: Zeng is a timid Chinese goose and messenger of Master Shifu. He is clumsy when he gets nervous, which is pretty much all the time. Zeng was sent to Chor-Ghom Prison to tell the guards to double their security on Tai Lung, even though there are already one thousand guards and Tai Lung is the only prisoner. Ironically, Zeng leaves one of his feathers behind and, like Hannibal Lector, Tai Lung uses it to escape. Watch out, Dragon Warrior. Game on!

Has a goose ever gotten you into trouble?

Y is for Yogi Bear

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"Yogi Bear"

THE STORY: Yogi Bear lives in Jellystone Park with his little pal Boo-Boo Bear. He has a hankerin' for picnic baskets and spends all his time trying to steal them. Ranger Smith does his best to thwart Yogi but is not always successful.

ABOUT YOGI: Yogi has a healthy self-esteem but is a bit narcissistic, referring to himself as "smarter than the average bear." His girlfriend Cindy Bear keeps him on his toes and does not appreciate his wild side. Yogi is a kleptomaniac and he cannot control himself when he sees a picnic basket. He needs therapy.

Have you ever been to Yellowstone?

X is for Xtra (Wild Card)

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"The Black Stallion"

THE STORY: A boy named Alec and a wild Arabian stallion are the only survivors of a shipwreck, washing up on the beach of a deserted island. Alec and "The Black" learn to trust each other and thrive in their island paradise. Eventually they are rescued, but modern life has lost its appeal as both recall their days of freedom on the isalnd.

ABOUT THE BLACK: This horse is a survivor -- imprisoned by Arab traders on a ship, swimming for his life when the ship explodes, and trapped by tangled ropes among boulders on the island. Alec is his only friend; he saves the horse's life and the horse saves Alec's. When they are rescued, The Black experiences new adventures as a race horse trained by none other than Mickey Rooney. 

Name three things you'd like to have with you on a deserted island.

W is for Wilbur

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Wilbur - "Charlotte's Web"

THE STORY: A pig named Wilbur is in danger getting slaughtered, so his friend Charlotte, a spider, comes to the rescue.

ABOUT WILBUR:  Wilbur was the runt of the litter and almost died. Luckily, a farm girl named Fern took him under her wing and raised him as her very own pet pig. Wilbur had a lot of friends on the farm but his very best friend was Charlotte. She was wise and kind and loved Wilbur very much. Wilbur was SOME PIG!

Do you have any spider stories?

V is for Verdell

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Verdell - "As Good as it Gets"

THE STORY: A humorous, yet profound tale of three New Yorkers whose lives connect -- Melvin, a best-selling novelist with OCD; Carol, a single mom and waitress with a sick child; and Simon, a gay artist. 

ABOUT VERDELL: Verdell is Simon's Brussels Griffon. When Simon ends up in the hospital after a brutal beating, Verdell stays with Melvin, who doesn't like the dog at all. But over time, Melvin and Verdell become best buddies. Bacon plays an important part in the relationship. When Simon comes home, poor Verdell is torn between his loyalty to Simon and his new friend Melvin. 

Do you like bacon?

U is for Underdog

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"Underdog"

THE STORY: "There's no need to fear - Underdog is here!" Underdog is the alter ego of humble and lovable Shoeshine Boy. When there is trouble afoot, Shoeshine Boy enters a phone booth and becomes the amazing superhero, Underdog!

ABOUT UNDERDOG: Underdog always speaks in rhymes and takes a "super energy pill" to boost his superpowers. "The secret compartment of my ring I fill / With an Underdog super energy pill." His love interest is Sweet Polly Purebred, a TV reporter. When she gets in a pickle, she sings, "Where oh where has my Underdog gone?" No cartoon would be complete without a mad scientist. Enter Sinister Bar Sinister. 

BONUS TRIVIA: A "Barre Sinister" is a diagonal line, running from top right to bottom left on medieval family crests, indicating the person is a bastard by birth; this was a clever inside joke typical of animation writing at the time.

T is for Toto

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Toto - "The Wizard of Oz"

THE STORY: Dorothy longs for a place over the rainbow and ends up in the Wonderful Land of Oz. It's beautiful and magical but there's no place like home.

ABOUT TOTO: Toto is the catalyst of everything that happens. He gets taken by Miss Gulch and Dorothy has to run away to keep Toto safe. It's his fault Dorothy wasn't in the storm cellar when the cyclone came. Toto led the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion to the witch's castle so they could rescue Dorothy. He's also the one that caused Dorothy to miss the balloon ride with the Wizard, thus allowing Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, to show her the lesson of the ruby slippers. Now that's some dog!

S is for Seabiscuit

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"Seabiscuit"

THE STORY: It's the Great Depression and America needs a hero. Enter Seabiscuit - a little horse with a big heart. In the words of the horse's owner Charles Howard - "The horse is too small, the jockey is too big, the trainer is too old and I'm too dumb to know the difference."

ABOUT SEABISCUIT: Not the biggest horse or the most beautiful, Seabiscuit holds his own in the race to end all races against War Admiral, the top racehorse in the country. For those down on their luck and standing in soup lines, Seabiscuit is a metaphor for hope. There's a reason a horse shoe brings good luck.

If you were a horse what would your name be?

R is for Remy

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Remy - "Ratatouille"

THE STORY: A rat named Remy aspires to be a chef. Of course, rats and restaurants go together like peanut butter and ketchup. Remy befriends a garbage boy named Linguini, and together they create a delicious ratatouille that impresses snobby food critic Anton Ego.

ABOUT REMY: Remy comes from a poor family of rats that scrounge for food among garbage in dingy alleys. Yet, this little rat has a dream - to be the Gordon Ramsay of Paris chefs. Somehow Remy developed amazing culinary skills which will serve him well if he can just make it to the kitchen without everyone screaming in terror and running for their lives.

Do you like to cook? What's your specialty?

Q is for Queenie

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Queenie -  "The 'Burbs"

THE STORY: A strange family moves into a peaceful suburban neighborhood. But when one of the neighbors goes missing, everyone suspects the Klopeks of foul play.

ABOUT QUEENIE: Queenie is Walter's miniature poodle. Every morning she trots over to the Rumsfield's nicely manicured lawn to "do her business." As a pampered poodle, her survival skills are nonexistent, which would be no big deal except for the day when she is found wandering around the neighborhood alone. And Walter is gone. Ray Peterson takes Queenie to his house until he can solve the mystery of Walter's disappearance.  


What goes on in your neighborhood?

P is for Pongo and Perdita

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.


Pongo and Perdita - "101 Dalmatians"

THE STORY: Cruella DeVil dog-naps Pongo and Perdita's 15 puppies to make clothing from their coats. The Dalmatian parents find their pups and rescue the 84 other Dalmatian puppies that have also been taken. Pongo and Perdita adopt the brood as their own. Talk about a tax deduction.

ABOUT PONGO AND PERDITA: So how did they meet? Pongo, bored to tears and tired of the bachelor life with his human, Roger. He was gazing out the window of their flat when he saw Perdita walking in the park with her human, Anita. For Pongo it was love at first sight. As only a dog can, he got Roger to take him to the park so they could meet the ladies - and fall in love.

How did you meet your significant other?

O is for Old Yeller

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"Old Yeller"

THE STORY: It's the 1860s and Travis Coates, a farm boy, must take care of his mother and younger brother while his father is away on a cattle drive. A big "yeller" dog shows up and begins to wreak havoc. Travis isn't impressed. But before you know it, he has a new best friend.

ABOUT OLD YELLER: Old Yeller was owned by Burn Sanderson, who tracked the dog to the Coates farm and traded him to the family for a horny toad and a home-cooked meal. Old Yeller spends his time chasing critters and keeping an eye on the family. Enter a rabid wolf that takes a hunk out of Old Yeller and poor Travis must shoot his beloved dog.


Ever seen a rabid critter?

N is for Nemo

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Nemo - "Finding Nemo"

THE STORY: Nemo is a clown fish in the Great Barrier Reef who ventures to the open sea and gets abducted by a boat that takes him to a dentist's office near Sydney Harbor. Nemo's father, Marlin, with the help of Dory, a regal tang, search for his lost son.  


ABOUT NEMO: A victim of an over-protective father and a physical handicap (small right fin due to a minor injury to his egg from a barracuda attack), Nemo naturally attempts to prove his fish-hood. As luck would have it, he gets trapped in a dentist's fish tank. With the help of his new friends, the Tank Gang, Nemo escapes by faking his death.


Have you ever been lost?

M is for Marley

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Marley - "Marley and Me"

THE STORY: A journalist and his wife get an adorable yellow Lab puppy named Marley who destroys everything in his path.

ABOUT MARLEY: Marley has a penchant for incessant barking, incessant running, incessant jumping and incessant eating. The family loves him but he’s the one pooch that would make the Dog Whisperer resign.

Do you have a dog story? Our dog King (German Shepherd) once ate an entire roasting pan full of cornbread stuffing. It was sitting on the kitchen table and somehow he managed to knock it onto the floor. He couldn’t move for days.

L is for Lady

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Lady - "Lady and the Tramp"

THE STORY: A footloose and fancy free mutt named Tramp meets Lady, a pampered Cocker Spaniel from Park Avenue. Despite their differences, they fall in love.

ABOUT LADY: Lady has it made. She has a loving relationship with Darling and Jim Dear, eats from a personalized doggie dish and sleeps by a warm fire. However, when the new baby arrives, Lady ends up in the dog house. After hanging out with Tramp for a few days, I’m thinking she could give those Siamese cats a dose of their own medicine.

How do you feel about Siamese cats?

K is for King Kong

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"King Kong"

THE STORY: A film crew led by Carl Denham travels to Skull Island and captures a giant ape whom he brings back to New York City and presents as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." 

ABOUT KING KONG: King Kong led a peaceful island existence and spent his days scaring the devil out of the natives. That is until he was captured and exploited by the evil impresarios. The good news? He found love. Perhaps Kong would agree that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.


What was your strangest romantic relationship?

J is for Jerry

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Jerry  - "Tom and Jerry"

THE STORY: Tom the Cat and Jerry the Mouse are arch rivals and spend most of their time trying to outsmart each other. Although sometimes they join forces against a common enemy (the dog).

ABOUT JERRY: So how can a tiny mouse defeat a big, hungry house cat? It's easy when you're a clever, cunning creature like Jerry. Tom doesn't really want to eat a Jerry sandwich, he just wants to "play cat and mouse" with him. But luck is on Jerry's side and Tom usually gets the heavy end of the anvil.


Have you ever lifted an anvil? That's some mouse!

I is for Iago

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Iago - "Aladdin"

THE STORY: Aladdin is a street urchin who falls in love with the beautiful and independent Princess Jasmine, who can only marry a prince, not a pauper. Meanwhile, the evil Jafar (Grand Vizier to the Sultan of Agrabah) wants to rule the land with the aid of a genie who resides in a magic lamp.

ABOUT IAGO: Iago is a greedy, devious parrot that hates stale crackers and helps Jafar in his plot to acquire the magic lamp. Because of his remarkable ability to imitate voices, he is useful to Jafar who tells Iago, "I love the way your fowl little mind works."


If you had a genie who could grant you three wishes, what would they be? (and you can't say "more wishes")

H is for Hazel

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Hazel - "Watership Down"

THE STORY: A warren of wild rabbits are forced from their home because it is being destroyed by humans. They must find a new home. But their enemies are everywhere - cats, birds of prey, dogs, foxes, humans with guns and roads with cars. The rabbits are blessed by their creator with the ability to run fast and to outwit their enemies.

ABOUT HAZEL: Hazel is the Chief Rabbit and leads the group on this dangerous journey. He is a natural leader and wisely heeds the advice of his younger brother, Fiver, who is a seer and has visions of the future.


Have you ever had a pet rabbit? We did. Her name was Lilac because her coat was a light lavender color.


This is where I encourage you to see this movie and read the book. It is life changing.

G is for Goats

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"The Men Who Stare at Goats"

THE STORY: Bob Wilton, a reporter goes to Kuwait with Lyn Cassady, a former special forces agent, and learns about the New Earth Army who were trained to use psychic powers in warfare.


ABOUT THE GOATS: The goats were flown in from South America, de-bleeted, and used for psychic experiments. In the secret goat laboratory, soldiers practiced stopping the goats hearts by staring at them. Back when the experiments were going on, Lyn used his psychic ability to kill a goat in this manner. He always regretted it. Later, when Larry Hooper started the goat experiments again, Lyn released the goats into the desert.

Do you like goat cheese?

F is for Felix the Cat

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"Felix the Cat"

THE STORY: Felix the Cat has a Magic Bag of tricks that gives him whatever he wants and helps him out whenever he gets into a fix. Unfortunately, this makes him a target of the Professor, a scientist who tries to steal the Magic Bag for his own evil purposes.

ABOUT FELIX: Felix not only has to deal with the Professor, but his nephew Poindexter and sidekick Rock Bottom, as well. Between the three of them, Felix has his paws full. Nevertheless, Felix always has the last laugh. If Felix were around today, he'd probably be a national security threat.


What would you have in your bag of tricks?

E is for Einstein

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.



Einstein - "Back to the Future"

THE STORY: Marty McFly, a teenager from 1985, travels through time and goes back to 1955 when his parents first met. The mode of travel is a nuclear powered DeLorean, but the machine needs to be tested first. That's where Doc Brown's dog, Einstein, comes in. Einstein is the first dog to travel through time.

ABOUT EINSTEIN: As the dog and companion of a mad scientist, Einstein is pretty laid back. He does what he's told without too much fuss. No one knows what happened to Einstein during his time travel episode. Maybe he stopped off for a hot dog and chased a few rabbits. We'll never know for sure.

Have you ever ridden in a DeLorean?

D is for Daffy Duck

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Daffy Duck

THE STORY: Daffy is always outsmarted by Bugs Bunny, but isn't everybody in the Looney Tunes universe? When "Duck Season" opens, Daffy must run for cover from Elmer Fudd, the bald-headed hunter who can't pronounce his "R's". Next to Wile E. Coyote, Daffy gets blown up the most. 

ABOUT DAFFY: Like Elmer, Daffy has a glaring speech impediment. But it doesn't seem to bother him. He has a proud nature and likes to be the "star" of the show. He resents Bugs Bunny's fame and has no problem sabotaging Bugs so he himself can be in the limelight. Daffy is not a team player. He thinks he's all that and a bag of chips.

What are your thoughts on foie gras?

C is for Cujo

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

"Cujo"

THE STORY: A little boy is afraid of monsters in his closet and his parents try to reassure him that monsters don't exist. He finds out differently when he and his mother are trapped in a broken down Pinto with a large rabid (and somewhat possessed) St. Bernard keeping watch.

ABOUT CUJO: Cujo lives in the country and belongs to a family that includes a misogynistic auto mechanic, his doormat wife and their teenage son. Like most country dogs, Cujo likes to chase rabbits. Unfortunately this leads to his demise when he corners a rabbit in a hole and gets bitten by a rabid bat. Once the rabies sets in, Cujo becomes a monster and goes on a killing spree.

Have you ever had a Cujo moment?

B is for Bruiser

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Bruiser Woods - "Legally Blonde"

THE STORY: Elle Woods, a blonde sorority girl, goes to Harvard to get her boyfriend back and in the process becomes a successful lawyer and even valedictorian of her class! Bruiser is her little dog who goes along for the ride. He is also the catalyst that helps Elle befriend mean girl Vivian.

ABOUT BRUISER: Bruiser is Elle's Chihuahua who travels happily in her purse. He likes to wear pink, which is Elle's "signature color." There are a couple of other dogs that deserve mention - Paulette's English Bulldog Rufus and from "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde," Standford's Rottweiler Leslie, who is gay.

Does your dog wear clothes?

A is for Aslan

Welcome to the A to Z Blogging Challenge where I will post on a word
featuring a different letter of the alphabet each day of the month of April.
My theme for this challenge is Animals on TV and Film.

Aslan - "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe"

THE STORY: Aslan, a lion, is King of the enchanted land of Narnia. When human children (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) arrive in Narnia through a wardrobe portal, the White Witch tries to kill them. Aslan sacrifices himself, becoming their savior and defeating the White Witch. A truly Biblical ending.

ABOUT ASLAN: Aslan is good but also fearsome. He has great power and beauty. He is reasonable and just. He gave special gifts to the "sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve," but they weren't gifts you would imagine a child would need -- they were for warfare: a sword for Peter, a bow and arrow for Susan and a dagger for Lucy. In the world of Narnia, spiritual warfare is a realtiy.  

What strange world would you find in the back of your closet?