I'm kinda afraid to look, since I don't want to be wrong, but as of this day in history (10/06/2020), I may be the only 30-something internet guy to (re)introduce 'Mirabelle and Me/Friends' (1994) to other 30-something internet guys (such an honor that'd be)! ^^
But there's no sense being in a hurry.
Before we start, let's have a look at the ACO and pencil.
The subject shown here is Matilda, from 'Mirabelle and Me/Friends' (duh!). She's a good-hearted sorceress and, per my humble opinion, the best-designed character from the show. I wasn't too creative with her pose here, pretty much just drawing what I saw, as it's difficult drawing larger characters in such a way that they'll fit in my drawing space (without cropping anything off). Granted, I know some could draw the entire cast on a rice grain, but... I'm not such a person (so you'll take what I can give ya!) D:
*ahem*
As for the pencil... I delineated Matilda via this old Eberhard Faber 'American' pencil. This model was very common---ubiquitous, even, in the 80's/90's. It's nothing special (kinda like 'Mirabelle and Me/Friends' ...but I'm getting ahead of myself).
So, regarding the show, which is it: 'Me' or 'Friends'?
So, 'Mirabelle and Me' is the name of the talking-doll toy,
NARRATOR: "Mirabelle talks to you and her videos. Batteries not included!"
..."and her videos".
There's only one video that I could find, and in the ad, it's mentioned as an afterthought (rightfully so). The video's content was intended as a pilot for a 'Mirabelle and Me' series that would be called 'Mirabelle and Friends' (the VHS video came with the doll---it wasn't a separate purchase). So far as I know, a series never happened.
The gimmick was the Mirabelle doll would 'watch' the video and talk, or laugh or whathaveyou, at key moments, as if it were actually enjoying the tape ...which implies the show's demographic were those with plastic heads and no brains. ^^
Anyway...
The video begins in the real world, in the bedroom of a little girl named Nicole.
NICOLE (dubbed over shots of her bedroom): "I want to tell you [the viewers at home] the most amazing story; it happened to my friend Mirabelle and me. One day, I wanted some of my other friends to play with us, but no one seemed to be home"
(cut to Nicole waiting by the phone)
NICOLE "I wonder where Valerie and Denise could be"
Oh, they're having fun at a party you weren't invited to. *shot*
NICOLE (to her Mirabelle doll): "You know what, Mirabelle---sometimes, I wish you were real"
You're both 'real', and that's the problem! I'm a 30-something man on the internet! I want animation intended for little girls!
...animated relief comes in the form of a Tinkerbell-inspired fairy emerging from the pendant attached to Mirabelle's chest.
NICOLE: "Oh, what a beautiful butterfly!"
...Uh, that's not a butterfly ...and why aren't you screaming!? D:
Arianna (the 'butterfly') begins singing,
"Ride the wind of my wings, To a magic land You'll be amazed by the trip, That's planned And if you need a friend, I will lend a hand Follow me (Follow me)"
The song is much longer than this, and is sung over very shaky, undirected camerawork---sarcasm aside, it IS a bit nauseating to focus on the movement.
Anyway, Nicole thinks following Arianna is a great idea (90's kids were fearless!). Taking her Mirabelle doll with her, Nicole is led by the fairy (through one of those cloth play tunnels) into a garden of candy!
Of course, upon entering the candy garden, both Nicole and her doll are transformed into animation cells,
MIRABELLE (to Nicole): "I'm real! I've always wanted to be like this, so I could talk to you!"
NICOLE: "Me, too! Now we're really friends!"
Granted, I'd love to be a cartoon, too, but ...Nicole is taking this far too well. :P
Nicole inquires of Arianna whether Mirabelle will 'stay like this'. Arianna replies she will, so long as she and Nicole remain in (the oh-so-creatively-named) Magicland.
Arianna disappears, leaving the two girls to themselves.
The girls notice the candy growing from the flowers and trees of the garden. Mirabelle is anxious to try some, but Nicole isn't sure the candy is theirs to take, and advises Mirabelle not to eat it. Before Mirabelle can reply, another girl is spotted near by, picking candy from the bushes.
NICOLE (to the girl): "Excuse me; is this your garden?"
The girl identifies herself as Gwendolyn. Gwendolyn admits the garden isn't hers, but (being the brat that she is) has no scruples about taking as much candy as she likes. Gwendolyn manages to sway Mirabelle to her thinking. The two saunter off together, leaving Nicole to stand alone with her morality.
The disappointed Nicole notices a signpost,
"Please don't eat this candy---I'm growing it to give to Santa, for Christmas stockings. Thank you so very much! -Matilda the Sorceress"
So, Santa exists in this reality? Ok, I'm with that, but I would like to know more about Magicland, how it works and so forth ...Alas, worldbuilding isn't something that 'Mirebelle and Me/Friends' cares for.
Nicole races over to where Mirabelle and Gwendolyn are picking candy, to inform them the sweets belong to Santa Claus.
Gwendolyn silences Nicole,
GWENDOLYN (to Nicole): "If you don't want to eat it, you don't have to! But you don't have to spoil it for Mirabelle. Some friend!"
MIRABELLE: "...Gwendolyn's right---you're spoiling it for me"
The two abandon Nicole, seemingly for good this time.
Later (and replete with candy), Mirabelle and Gwendolyn decide on something else to do,
GWENDOLYN: "You want to come over to my playhouse? I've got about a billion toys---plenty to share with my best friend!"
I don't think the direction this story is going in could be more obvious. Even so, I've seen this formula done well before, but I haven't much hope here. given the abrupt and hurried pacing of the events and the decisions that bring them about. Nothing that's happened so far is particularly engaging or believable.
After a while, Nicole begins to worry about Mirabelle, and goes looking for her ...and Nicole finds herself lost in a topiary maze, consequently (Gwendolyn!) D:
Meanwhile, at the playhouse, Gwendolyn and Nicole play around with giant-sized toys.
MIRABELLE: "This is so much fun!"
GWENDOLYN: "Of course! I'm not a spoilsport like Nicole. You can do whatever you want when you're with me!"
I'm just hoping one or both of them will start growing donkey ears. :3
We return to Nicole, still wandering about in the maze. Having observed the goings-on, Arianna appears before Nicole, to offer assistance,
ARIANNA (singing),
"A friend helps a friend, When she's in a jam I promised I'd be your friend, And so here I am As a friend may I say, That it's time to scram Follow me (Follow me)"
Follow you indeed---doing so worked out so well before! :P
Nicole is led to the end of the maze, whereat Arianna flies away to her leave. Nicole is not alone, however, as she finds herself in the presence of Matilda the Sorceress!
Nicole explains her Mirabelle problem to the friendly sorceress,
MATILDA: "(gasp!) You let your friend go with Gwendolyn!? ...Gwendolyn's just like her dad, the duke: selfish, spoiled and mean-spirited!"
NICOLE: "We've got to find Mirabelle"
MATILDA: "I know, and that's just what we're going to do!"
...I like Matilda. :3
Matilda is kind, and though she is presented as a bit clumsy with her magic, she doesn't come across as (wholly) incompetent. :3
Matilda uses her crystal ball to find Mirabelle and Gwendolyn ...this somehow transitions into a song about Gwendolyn's face (my guess is the VHS recording was damaged or its upload was poorly edited). :P
Either way, we return to Gwendolyn and Mirabelle, continuing their playtime.
GWENDOLYN: "What's wrong with you?"
MIRABELLE: "I miss Nicole"
GWENDOLYN: "But you've got everything you could ever want here"
MIRABELLE: "I know. I love all these things, but I want to share them with Nicole"
GWENDOLYN: "If she were here, she'd say, 'don't play with this, don't touch that!'. You know how she is ...remember how she was in the candy garden, and the fight you had?"
MIRABELLE: "But, I remember the fun times we had together, too"
When you were a piece of plastic?
A (slightly better than serviceable) duet about the aforementioned fun times is sung by Mirabelle and Nicole, from their respective locations (made possible on Nicole's end via Matilda's crystal ball).
Seems Mirabelle was and had more fun as a toy. :P
Come to think of it, how does the Mirabelle doll work in this universe? The song presents her as just a doll, with no interactive components. Seems counterintuitive of the marketing department, if they're suggesting a plain old babydoll is just as much fun (if not more so) than this costly electronic one ...and I'd have to agree (not that I have any baby dolls) ^^
*slides his Easter Delights Barbie under his desk* ^^
After the song, Gwendolyn (sensing she's losing her influence over Mirabelle), offers to show Mirabelle something 'amazing'.
The word 'amazing' sure is used a lot in this show, despite a dearth of anything hitherto that could be described as such. :P
Anyway,
GWENDOLYN: "Let's go see my dad's flying horses!"
Pegasi?
Still watching from the crystal ball, Nicole asks Matilda about said Pegasi,
MATILDA: "They're sorta wild"
NICOLE! (taking leave): "I've got to get Mirabelle!"
MATILDA: "I wish I could go with you ...the duke put a spell on me. If I step on his property, I'll turn into a toad"
Matilda knows magic, too---couldn't she try to break the spell?
MATILDA (continuing): "But, I can give you a bit of magic to take along, to help you if you need it!"
Matilda makes a magic wand (of uncertain potential) from a tree stick and gives it to Nicole.
Nicole ventures forth down the cobbled path leading to the very conspicuous castle that is (in part?) Gwendolyn's playhouse.
Meanwhile, Gwendolyn introduces Mirabelle to her father's Pegasi. It's made clear by the stableboy (who looks like an extra from Disney's Gummi Bears) that the girls do not have the duke's permission to ride the Pegasi. Gwendolyn scoffs, and takes a Pegasus for herself, and one for Mirabelle.
Nicole makes her way into the castle's playroom (completely unobserved, of course). From a skylight, Nicole spies Gwendolyn and Mirabelle riding overhead on the Pegasi.
It seems to Nicole that Mirabelle is losing control of her steed! D:
In the sky above, the duke (sitting bareback on a Pegasus, standing on a cloud) appears before Mirabelle. Mirabelle somehow comes to a halt on the duke's cloud,
THEDUKE (to Mirabelle): "No one rides my horses without my permission!"
MIRABELLE: "That's fine with me. How do you make these things land?"
...Uh, you just landed. :P
Mirabelle's Pegasus again takes flight, but lands on the ground near where Nicole is standing. The landing, however, was a rough one---Mirabelle is thrown from the Pegasus, over a cliff (why not?).
Clinging to a (convenient) root, Mirabelle cries out to Nicole to save her.
Nicole has some difficulty rescuing Mirabelle, but succeeds in the end ...no thanks to Gwendolyn, who was content to sit back on her ride and watch, alongside the duke.
GWENDOLYN (to the duke; pointing at Mirabelle): "It's her fault! She made me do it! She got on first! I had to follow to get her to come back!"
MIRABELLE: "That's not true!"
THEDUKE (to Mirabelle): "You're in big trouble, little girl!"
Nicole uses her magic wand to keep the duke and his guards at bay (it's rather comical, as the magic only kinda knows what Nicole intends it to do).
Either way, the magic works. With the duke and his guards out of the way, Mirabelle confronts Gwendolyn,
MIRABELLE (to Gwendolyn): "I thought you were my friend"
GWENDOLYN: "I am! I let you play in my playhouse!"
MIRABELLE: "But you didn't help me when I needed it"
Not to mention lying about you to your face. :P
GWENDOLYN: "Well, I was having so much fun, I didn't feel like stopping!"
Mirabelle and Nicole exchange apologies (IMHO, Nicole had nothing to be sorry for), and reaffirm their friendship.
Arianna reappears,
ARIANNA: "It's time to go now ...you'll come back again for lots more adventures!"
No you won't! ;)
With that, Arianna teleports Nicole and Mirabelle back to Nicole's room in the real world, whereat Mirabelle transforms back into a doll.
NICOLE (to her Mirabelle doll): "Mirabelle, that was the most amazing, incredible thing!"
What was?
At the room's threshold stand Valerie and Denise,
VALERIE: "Nicole, where have you been?"
NICOLE: "Just, um... playing with Mirabelle ...Hey, where were you guys?"
DENISE: "Making this for you!"
NICOLE: "A friendship bracelet? It's beautiful!"
VALERIE: "And one for Mirabelle, too!"
And that's that!
My only closing thoughts are these: Boring, this was! Magicland is the oly place we know of where Mirabelle can come to life, yet we are given next to no knowledge about the place (and no hope that we ever will). The wtriting was hurried throughout, and mostly awkward. The animation is serviceable at best---it's ok for a low-budget series, but not for a pilot episode (as this was). One could only expect the series to go down from here. Last, the demographic for this series seems to be talking dolls ...and I don't think there are very many of those out there among the TV-watching crowd. Too bad. :3
