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Simpsons Monopoly - Buy and Sell Springfield

By Article Expert on Nov. 19, 2009.

If you are a diehard fan of the popular television program The Simpsons, there is a new product that you and family are sure to enjoy. This great idea combines the excitement of playing board games with your family and friends with your favorite television cartoon characters. Simpsons Monopoly is a collectible version of the immensely popular classic game that will have you and your group laughing and playing for hours at a time. Featured in this edition of the game are the Springfield locations and characters that are known to and loved by fans globally.

The game comes with six pewter tokens that are fashioned in the shapes of some of our favorite characters; Homer, Bart, Jebidiah Springfield, Blinky, Kang, and Santa’s Little Helper. In addition, there are four more collectible tokens that can be purchased separately. The plot for the game involves a monorail system that is coming to Springfield. Of course, this means that everyone is now attempting to buy up all the individual properties appearing in the Simpson Monopoly game, so that the monorail stations and stops can be built on their property. Instead of the original Atlantic City properties that are usually seen in the Parker Brothers classic version, once again this collectible version takes liberties and renames them. You will immediately recognize such Springfield landmarks as Krusty Studios, Mr. Burns Manor and Moe’s Bar. Even the play money that comes with the game is designed to pay homage to the Simpsons.

For those of you who may prefer the board games that have combined a bit of the newer technology there is a version that will delight you as well. You can use the Simpsons Electronic Banking Monopoly game and enjoy the same type of fun but in a faster and more convenient form. This version is going to be familiar to anyone who has played a game of electronic Monopoly in the past. The biggest difference is that the properties and characters will be from the Simpsons television show.

There is also a Halloween edition called the Simpsons Tree House of Horrors Monopoly. In this edition, the board properties are somewhat changed from the other editions. In this version, there is a scarier theme and this is even reflected in the properties that are included.

Anyone who is a collector of board games or different Monopoly versions will want one of these new limited editions. As you can imagine, fans of the series will love to get a copy of Simpson Monopoly right away. When you are looking for a little offbeat entertainment, you need to check out one of these newest board games for loads of over the top laughter and fun.

The real Tinkerbell revealed

By Article Expert on Nov. 16, 2009.

Many believe that Tinkerbell – the fairy who appears in the 1953 Disney’ Peter Pan movie - is a creation of The Walt Disney Company. Not so. Tinkerbell is a character that was created almost half a century before the Peter Pan movie was released.

Tinkerbell, also known as Tink for brevity, is a fictional character that first appeared in a 1904 play by J M Barrie and later in a novel he wrote entitled Peter and Wendy that was published in 1911.

Tinkerbell was described by J M Barrie as a fairy who mended kettles and metal pots and pans just like an actual tinker would. Her dialogue in the play and in the later novel consists of the sounds of a tinkling bell, which is understandable only to those familiar with the language of the fairies. Though sometimes ill-tempered and spiteful (for example she coaxes the Lost Boys to shoot arrows at Wendy), at other times she is helpful and kind to Peter. The extremes in her personality are explained by J M Barrie in the story as being due to the fact that her small fairy size prevents her from holding more than one feeling at a time, so when she is angry she has no counterbalance such as compassion or kindness.

At first Tinkerbell was only a supporting character described by J M Barrie as “a common fairy”, however - following her success in Disney’s Peter Pan when children the world over fell in love with her animated incarnation, Tinkerbell has become a widely recognized as the unofficial mascot of The Walt Disney Company and recently as the centerpiece of its Disney Fairies media franchise including the direct-to-DVD film Tinker Bell.

Tinker Bell was originally part of the Disney Princess franchise but she was removed from this in 2005 to take her place as the central character of the new Disney Fairies franchise. At Disneyland, guests are able to interact with Tinkerbell at Pixie Hollow’s meet-and-greet area opened in 2008,.

Tinkerbell has thousands of fans the world over and many websites are dedicated to this delicate yet mischeivous fairy. For example at sites like Fairy Coloring Pages you’ll find the best Tinkerbell colouring pages

Interestingly, the copyright to the Tinkerbell character is owned by the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, England. A bronze statue of Tinkerbell appears at the hospital’s entrance to commemorate the fact that the Scottish born J M Barrie bequeathed the copyright to the character to the children’s hospital upon his death in 1937.

Awaiting Disney’s Princess Tiana’s November movie release

By Article Expert on Nov. 14, 2009.

Disney fans the world over are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the latest Disney movie - The Princess and the Frog starring Princess Tiana.

Princess Tiana is the protagonist of Disney’s upcoming 2009 film ‘The Princess and the Frog’. The film has a limited release date in the USA (in NY and LA only) of the 25th November and will be released in US theaters on December 11th. This film will mark the return of Disney to traditional hand drawn animation and will bring to fans the 9th Disney Princess. The latest member of Disney’s Royal Family, Princess Tiana, is the first Disney Princess to come along in 11 years - with the last Disney Princess being 1998’s Mulan.

The Princess and the Frog movie storyline centers on young Tiana, a young woman living in the French Quarter of New Orleans during the 1920s Jazz Age and a prince named Naveen who has been transformed into a frog by the evil voodoo magician Dr. Facilier. The story features a trumpet playing alligator, a love sick Cajun firefly and a host of other adorable characters at every turn.

At the recent Toy Fair in the USA, a preview was given of the Disney merchandise that will accompany this feature film. With vibrant and regal colors like purple, green, gold and blue, the toys will evoke life in New Orleans and the bayou, where the film is set. The collection includes dolls, playsets, role-play items and costumes as well as colorful accessories.

The Princess and the Frog Tiana doll from Mattel, will probably be the most popular toy from the line. Just as in the story, beautiful Princess Tiana wears her sparkly blue ball gown and comes with her frog Prince Naveen. The gown will light up and the doll and frog will interact! In addition to the signature Princess Tiana doll, Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana will be available in wedding attire.

Websites about the gorgeous Princess Tiana and the movie have already begun to appear. Of note are those that applaud Disney’s choice to feature a black princess (Disney’s first) and other sites that offer coloring pages, printables and paper crafts that feature Disney’s latest Princess.

Little girls of all ages will enjoy the many, free, printable coloring images of Princess Tiana (plus party invitations, various paper crafts and party room decorations) available from Princess Tiana Coloring Pages a site that has the best The Princess and the Frog coloring book.

As we await the movie’s release, Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana gives us a glimpse into the princess’ character. Tiana is a “diamond in the rough” who will have to learn some lessons before she reaches true princess status. She is a motivated, determined and independent young woman. She wants to do things her way, without help from anyone. “She’s a strong woman who doesn’t need anyone to do things for her,” says Anika Noni Rose. “She is keen to do things for herself…”