The Off-Beats - Your Shoes Are Untied - Toonstalgia

The Off-Beats - Your Shoes Are Untied

Synopsis

The Populars tell the Misfits their shoes are untied.

Notes

I love all of these shorts. I wouldn't bother overthinking them so much if I didn't hold a deep affection for them. I love the Off-Beat's sense of self.

This is the first short to feature all of the main recurring characters including the Populars, the Off-Beats (or Misfits) and Grubby Goo. 

The simple style of the shorts reminds me of a daily comic strip. The characters are each distinct. The character designer made careful choices like giving August and his dog September the same philtrum (the line between the nose and mouth). The backgrounds are vacant aside from an attractive pattern that may or may not reference a specific setting.

An Overly Long Synopsis (Seriously, it doesn't need to be this long)

The Populars decide to prank the Off-Beats by telling them their shoes are untied and flicking their nose. Tina, the Leader, tells Betty Anne Bongo her shoes are untied. Betty Ann tells them she has them untied on purpose. Next, the Populars target August. August knows his shoes can't be untied because his shoe tier guarantees eight hours of wear. September doesn't wear shoes because he's a dog. The Populars then tell Tommy his shoes are untied. His tells them to leave his shoes alone. One of the Populars acknowledges the prank's not working so they throw him out (as they did in My Dog can talk). The last target is Repunzil. She believes them and they flick her nose (apparently not the first time). Grubby Goo elaborately ties her shoes, even incorporating some of her hair. The Populars try again. This time Repunzil's shoe laces flick them.

The Off-Beats - My Dog Can Talk - Toonstalgia

 The Off-Beats - My Dog Can Talk

Synopsis

August asks the Populars to hang out with him and his talking dog.

I first saw the Off-Beats when they played between Nickelodeon shows and on Kablam! I watched a lot of Nickelodeon as a kid. When I looked back at the Off-Beats, I was surprised the show existed on its own separate from Kablam!, albeit a short life. This show deserved better. The style was unique and served the simple conflicts. The characters were diverse and memorable. It was funny.

Most episodes were between 2 and 4 minutes. Although they also created a full half hour Valentine's Day special.

A Ridiculous, Unnecessarily Long Synopsis

The first short introduces August, his dog September and the Populars. August asks the Populars to hang out. Their Leader rejects him. He tempts them with a heliball (a football with a rotor) and a five person pogo stick but neither interest her. When he tells them his dog can talk, one popular finds it cool but they (literally) throw him out for speaking out of turn. Then their leader demands to hear the dog talk. After cajoling from August, September remarks, "Bow". The Populars burst into laughter. September clarifies he was demanding they bow down to him which they do.

My Perfect Vanilla Cake Recipe

My Perfect Vanilla Cake Recipe

I've tested this cake several times because I wanted to create a recipe that was original.

Volumetric measurements? Volume is easier for me. Recipes can be thrown off by the flour clumping together but I've never had a significant problem with this. It's entirely based on experience.

Timing? Varies depending on your oven, your pan and the quantity of batter. The result is key. A beautiful golden cake is the goal. Pull it the instant it looks beautiful and it comes out clean.

Heating Cores? Metal objects you put in the center of your cake to direct heat to the center of the cake.

Ingredients

3 cup cake flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda

1 cup softened butter
1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup sour cream

6 eggs, separated
1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt

Heating cores

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of the cake pans. Cut parchment circles. Push the heating core through the center of the circle.

2. Beat the butter until fluffy. Beat in the sugar. Beat in the vegetable oil. Add the sour cream. Keep it going until fluffy.

3. Separate the eggs. Add the yolks to the butter mixture the previous step. Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks.

4. Whip the vanilla, salt, egg yolks, baking powder and baking soda into butter mixture. Add the flour one cup at a time.

5. Fold the egg whites into the butter mixture.

6. Pour the batter into the pans. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until the surface is golden and a cake tester comes out clean.

Next mission, figure out my perfect frosting recipe. Still haven't gotten that one figured out.