100 Things #17: Code Lyoko
100 of My Fandoms
17. Code Lyoko
Around the time that I was in middle school, when I'd come home from school or camp, I generally kicked back and turned on the TV for a few hours (this was when there were still good things on TV). I don't remember when it first appeared, but at some point I realized that a new programming block called Miguzi had popped up on Cartoon Network. (All of whose bumpers, incidentally, can be found on YouTube, as I discovered today. Dat nostalgia.) Having little better to do, I watched it, and it was then that I found Code Lyoko. And Totally Spies, and, probably they showed something else too. Really.
My first impression, I have to say, was "What the heck is this". XANA? Computer girlfriend? Virtualization? Return to the who what? And why do they have those pentagonal eyes? Of course, I figured it would probably make a lot more sense once I'd seen the first episode, so I could understand the backstory behind the characters, their relationships, and how they came to be able to go into a computer-generated world and fight stuff. But at some point I learned that there was no first episode. Or, well, there was, but it dumped you in the middle of everything just as much as the other ones did. I'm told they made a prequel episode later, but I don't think I ever had the chance to see it. I should. I should rewatch this whole show actually. :|a BUT ANYWAY
Actually that is not so off-topic. I want to rewatch it so badly because I liked a lot about it. I liked how each episode came up with a new and inventive way for XANA to attack the real world and for the kids to stop it. I liked how it was episodic in nature, but took care to keep the main plot progressing. I liked how much it made me actually care about the main plot - when they were devirtualizing Aelita at the end of season 1, I was on the edge of my seat, man. @_@ And, obviously, I loved the characters. This was just a really good show, man.
I should also give props to the dubbers here, because as I was looking up quotes today, I realized there was a whole lot of snappy dialogue in this show. Nothing that made enough sense out of context to be used as cut text, unfortunately, but enough that I've gotta admire their skill for making it all flow like that. And I can't close this paragraph without saying that for whatever reason, I really love the Hebrew dub. If nothing else, I definitely prefer the Hebrew opening to either the French or the English versions. I just wish there were a full version somewhere. ;_; Also, there's a couple Hebrew episodes on YouTube, which I sometimes put on in the background when I'm doing stuff. They're oddly soothing.
And since this is supposed to be rambly, dang it, I'm going to voice a couple thoughts that didn't fit elsewhere. The first is a fond memory: the day (apparently October 6, 2005) when I learned that not only were Code Lyoko and Fairly Oddparents going to premiere bodyswap episodes on the same day, they were going to be one right after the other! On different channels, but. I may or may not have squeed embarrassingly. Literally, I may or may not have; I don't remember. But I do remember that being a ridiculously exciting moment. :D The second is my unreasonable grudge against the outfit change in later seasons. Have a comparison (new outfits on left, old on right); it ain't great image quality, but it's the best I could find. Also, I realize Jérémie's not in the new outfits picture, so have him too. I don't have so much of a problem with Odd's and Ulrich's new outfits, because they're basically the same thing, and I actually enjoy the color variation going on with Odd's new hoodie. But:
Favorite character: Out of the main kids, I'd say it's gotta be Jérémie. He's the more cerebral one who's kind of excluded from what the others are doing, and also his girlfriend lives in a computer. (For a while, anyway.) I sympathize, man. Also he has glasses, so, there's that. Outside of them, Jim. Definitely Jim. Love that guy. "I'd rather not talk about it." Oh, Jimbo.
OTP: Well, insofar as I shipped anything, I think it must have been Jérémie/Aelita. Ulrich/Yumi was far too far on the "they obviously like each other but we aren't having them get together because ~reasons and ~drama" side of canon for me to enjoy it, but I recall Jérémie and Aelita being pretty darn sweet and cute together. I like how she's got the playful side needed to get him to loosen up once in a while. Also, although I didn't learn this until later, they've got the same English voice actor, and you know how I feel about pairings like that (poster boy: Kenshida). I think a small part of me may also have been rooting for Sissi/Ulrich, but she'd definitely need to shape up a bit beforehand. Maybe they have a fling years later when she's at least somewhat less of a brat.
Recommended fanworks: I got just one piece of art for you today, but it has such a nice style that I had to share. Unfortunately, the original artist seems to have taken it down, so have this link: Lyoko Fanart by hunterGON. See what I mean? Also, Jérémie. Jérémie unf. *_*
17. Code Lyoko
Around the time that I was in middle school, when I'd come home from school or camp, I generally kicked back and turned on the TV for a few hours (this was when there were still good things on TV). I don't remember when it first appeared, but at some point I realized that a new programming block called Miguzi had popped up on Cartoon Network. (All of whose bumpers, incidentally, can be found on YouTube, as I discovered today. Dat nostalgia.) Having little better to do, I watched it, and it was then that I found Code Lyoko. And Totally Spies, and, probably they showed something else too. Really.
My first impression, I have to say, was "What the heck is this". XANA? Computer girlfriend? Virtualization? Return to the who what? And why do they have those pentagonal eyes? Of course, I figured it would probably make a lot more sense once I'd seen the first episode, so I could understand the backstory behind the characters, their relationships, and how they came to be able to go into a computer-generated world and fight stuff. But at some point I learned that there was no first episode. Or, well, there was, but it dumped you in the middle of everything just as much as the other ones did. I'm told they made a prequel episode later, but I don't think I ever had the chance to see it. I should. I should rewatch this whole show actually. :|a BUT ANYWAY
Actually that is not so off-topic. I want to rewatch it so badly because I liked a lot about it. I liked how each episode came up with a new and inventive way for XANA to attack the real world and for the kids to stop it. I liked how it was episodic in nature, but took care to keep the main plot progressing. I liked how much it made me actually care about the main plot - when they were devirtualizing Aelita at the end of season 1, I was on the edge of my seat, man. @_@ And, obviously, I loved the characters. This was just a really good show, man.
I should also give props to the dubbers here, because as I was looking up quotes today, I realized there was a whole lot of snappy dialogue in this show. Nothing that made enough sense out of context to be used as cut text, unfortunately, but enough that I've gotta admire their skill for making it all flow like that. And I can't close this paragraph without saying that for whatever reason, I really love the Hebrew dub. If nothing else, I definitely prefer the Hebrew opening to either the French or the English versions. I just wish there were a full version somewhere. ;_; Also, there's a couple Hebrew episodes on YouTube, which I sometimes put on in the background when I'm doing stuff. They're oddly soothing.
And since this is supposed to be rambly, dang it, I'm going to voice a couple thoughts that didn't fit elsewhere. The first is a fond memory: the day (apparently October 6, 2005) when I learned that not only were Code Lyoko and Fairly Oddparents going to premiere bodyswap episodes on the same day, they were going to be one right after the other! On different channels, but. I may or may not have squeed embarrassingly. Literally, I may or may not have; I don't remember. But I do remember that being a ridiculously exciting moment. :D The second is my unreasonable grudge against the outfit change in later seasons. Have a comparison (new outfits on left, old on right); it ain't great image quality, but it's the best I could find. Also, I realize Jérémie's not in the new outfits picture, so have him too. I don't have so much of a problem with Odd's and Ulrich's new outfits, because they're basically the same thing, and I actually enjoy the color variation going on with Odd's new hoodie. But:
- Yumi - What is the point of changing the colors to ones that are similar to the original, but have the added bonus of clashing? What did the introduction of tiny patches of light blue and purple add to her outfit? Honestly.
- Jérémie - That maroon is just not a good color for him. It's just not. And again, olive track pants with a bright blue stripe? Who approved these color choices?
- Aelita - Granny dress.
Favorite character: Out of the main kids, I'd say it's gotta be Jérémie. He's the more cerebral one who's kind of excluded from what the others are doing, and also his girlfriend lives in a computer. (For a while, anyway.) I sympathize, man. Also he has glasses, so, there's that. Outside of them, Jim. Definitely Jim. Love that guy. "I'd rather not talk about it." Oh, Jimbo.
OTP: Well, insofar as I shipped anything, I think it must have been Jérémie/Aelita. Ulrich/Yumi was far too far on the "they obviously like each other but we aren't having them get together because ~reasons and ~drama" side of canon for me to enjoy it, but I recall Jérémie and Aelita being pretty darn sweet and cute together. I like how she's got the playful side needed to get him to loosen up once in a while. Also, although I didn't learn this until later, they've got the same English voice actor, and you know how I feel about pairings like that (poster boy: Kenshida). I think a small part of me may also have been rooting for Sissi/Ulrich, but she'd definitely need to shape up a bit beforehand. Maybe they have a fling years later when she's at least somewhat less of a brat.
Recommended fanworks: I got just one piece of art for you today, but it has such a nice style that I had to share. Unfortunately, the original artist seems to have taken it down, so have this link: Lyoko Fanart by hunterGON. See what I mean? Also, Jérémie. Jérémie unf. *_*