#maybe katrina is the headless horseman

[karizard-ao3]

Eren as the headless horseman? Sleepy Hollow? Modern au? I’m beyond invested, I have so many questions

First of all, you casually mentioned he rides a motorcycle and this feels illegal, because the idea of Eren doing that is very very hot. Imagine that’s how he drives to school, he takes Mikasa back home everyday with her arms around his torso.

And then ok, Eren is the type of evil maniac to hatch a plan to scare off his romantic rival as the headless horseman. But what’s the context? A Halloween costume party? He’s so smug and proud of himself as the guy flees away, screaming, never to be close to Mikasa again.

But just imagine Mikasa catching him. It all makes sense. The motorcycle, and she even saw Eren carving out the pumpkin, careful to make the most frightening face possible and kinda failing. She unmasks her headless horseman, maybe? A bit exasperated at his antics?

I’m just making things up as I go, a totally defer to your judgment, I just need some more sleepy hollow content! :) Btw I think the character that most resembles Ichabod is pre timeskip Armin, nerdy and all, but I think we can agree it would be weird, and it’s even funnier to imagine a guy like Jean running away screaming from Eren wearing a pumpkin in his head, chasing him on a bike in the middle of the night

I agree about Armin but for two things: Ichabod is verrrrrry superstitious and he's a glutton. These are two of his defining personality traits and I just don't think Armin fits the bill in that respect. But I'm on board shoving those qualities on Jean, so let's go!

I'm thinking Eren and Mikasa have a situationship and she cannot get him to pick up the hint that she wants to make it official. Yes, she could ask him but he's so hard to read (comes up to greet her, touches her lower back, then says, "Hey, pal") that she doesn't want to make a fool of herself in case she is misreading his feelings for her.

Enter Jean.

Ichabod is a school teacher, so let's have Jean in a role like that. I don't want to make him a professor because if that was the case I'm sure Eren would just get him fired, so let's say he's a teaching assistant because there's more of a gray area. Now, in the story Ichabod is really more in love with Katrina's wealth then with her. Although she is very beautiful and he appreciates that. With this in mind, let's say that Mikasa is also very wealthy. She is the air to the a z u m a b i t o Fortune and she's really just in school studying French literature or whatever for kicks. So, j e a n starts sniffing around and m i k a s a sees the opportunity to make e r e n jealous and maybe get him to finally admit whether or not he loves her or feels romantically towards her at all.

She starts shunning e r e n in favor of flirting with Jean and he is in hell. He hates that stupid ass hole and he wants him out of the picture so he can get his girl back!

And that's how we get to the Halloween party. I'm not sure if teaching assistants can go to student Halloween parties but that's probably also gray area so Jean is there, e r e n is there, and m i k a s a is there. This whole time, m i k a s a didn't really think that Jean was doing more than flirting with her and if he was, she didn't think it would really come to anything since, again, he's a teaching assistant and she doesn't think he would ask her out until he was no longer the teaching assistant in her class and by that point she's hoping she'll be going out with Eren.

Thus, she is quite nonplussed when Jean approaches her at the Halloween party and confesses his love for her. She is not sure what to do but in the end she tells him that she is simply not interested because she has feelings for someone else. E r e n doesn't know any of this because he is too busy scheming on how to get j e a n out of his hair. Since it's a Halloween party, everyone has been telling ghost stories and things of that nature and e r e n has ascertained that Jean is actually pretty f****** scared of ghosts. He is excited to hear this information and begins to improvise a plan. For his costume you I'm going to say he dressed up as a scarecrow with a pumpkinhead. He decides that his best course of action is to use the super normal to terrify John and scare him away from campus. He wants him to drop out of school because he's so terrified. E r e n goes ahead and tells his own ghost story all about the headless dean that roams their University at night and terrorizes students. He's not actually Super creative so this is already a campus folktale, if you will there was in fact a Dean who was decapitated under what are considered to be mysterious circumstances and so the students do like to talk about how he rides around and terrorizes people as he searched for the man who cut off his head. J e a n was not familiar with this legend because he got his undergraduate at a different school and is doing his graduate work here and it's his first year and so he had no idea that there was this school legend he is very freaked out and is already nervous when he has to walk through the campus after dark so he is not looking forward to having to leave this party, which is at a frat on campus or something. I don't know. He's going to have to walk through campus to get back to his apartment basically.

He figures, though, that if his confession to Mikasa works out he might be able to just go home with her and avoid having to go through campus at all. Unfortunately, she does turn him down and so he finds that not only is he going to have to walk through campus to get home he is leaving the party a lot earlier than any of the guests and so there's going to be no one else out when he is.

While he's walking.. actually, no. He borrows a scooter from someone so he can get through campus faster. So while he's scooting through campus he hears the roar of a motorcycle. He does not know if the headless Dean rides a motorcycle but when the rider appears in front of him headless and wearing a suit with his head on the handlebars in front of him he can only assume that it is the headless Dean and he's come for him. He is terrified. He's scootering as fast as he can, desperate to make it home but a scooter is no match for a motorcycle and mysterious figure. Eventually Jean gets cornered and the biker throws his head at Jean. J e a n screams he falls off of his scooter, he is weeping. Blessedly, the biker then Rides away and Jean is safe. No one sees him again. They find his school bag which he dropped in his escape and they find the shattered remains of a Jack O'Lantern nearby and it is just this huge mystery. Why no one thinks to look him up on social media and see what he's up to I don't know. I guess no one really cares that much. Or maybe it's just so much fun to pretend that he was killed under mysterious circumstances that no one wants to be proven wrong. What we do know is that Eren, who went missing from the party for a little while, reappears again and goes up to Mikasa and gives her that kind of Kiss where it almost knocks her over and he's got to hold her up with his arm. Basically he dips her. Then he says, you're my girlfriend now, and they live happily ever after.

Eventually, people do start to wonder what happened to Dean and someone runs into him out and about and discovers that he did indeed finish his degree at a different college and if he's now doing whatever he's doing with it and he got married and he has a nice family and everything is great but they still prefer the idea that he disappeared because of a ghost on Halloween and so that's what they choose to believe.

I'm writing this with voice to text while I get ready for work so please forgive any misspellings or gross errors or anything like that. I am at the mercy of my smart phone's limited intelligence and do not have the time for a quality edit.

#eremika #ask me things #my asks #answered asks #eren jaeger #mikasa ackerman #eremika au #the legend of sleepy hollow au #headless horseman #eren as brom bones #mikasa as katrina von tassel #modern legend of sleepy hollow au #eremika headcanons

[rom-e-o]

I just finished "The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel" and I am SO DEPRESSED.

1790s New York as a setting? Glorious. Passionate, open-door love story with a jealous third wheel? YES.

She has a friend who is a healer and WITCH? Super rad. Obsessed.

A slowburn mystery? Yay! Oh, it takes until chapter 32 to get to the MAIN ISSUE? Y-Yikes, that's some...interesting pacing, but it is the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, soooo it's not like you're reading this for any real surprises.

Gunpowder the horse is here! That's fun! So, the Headless Horseman. I-I know this story. Haha. Maybe it'll....end happily this time? I mean, the 1820 short story was a little ambiguous, and the Disney cartoon was as well, so maybe-

NO. NO IT DOESN'T.

I'M SO SAD. I'm writing fluff to cheer myself up.

[irantforpleasure]

You ever watch something and wonder "What was the point of all that?"

That's how I feel about the Icabod story in The Adventures of Icabod and Mr. Toad.

As a horror and animation fan I like the scenes with the Headless Horseman of course but the rest of the story is meh.

Sexist and fatphobic undertones aside everyone is an asshole, Katrina likes 2 guys and pits them against each other and they both objectify her. Maybe their characters just don't bod with modern audiences.

Then after the whole short, Icabod is either dead or missing and everyone just moves on. I mean harsh.

The Headless Horseman is why everyone keeps coming back!

#the adventures of ichabod and mr. toad #the headless horseman

[darllena-hefo-blodyn-tatws]

The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo

A Story of Sleepy Hollow

I’m currently on chapter 25 of The Spellbook of Katrina Van Tassel by Alyssa Palombo.

The chapters are good bitesized chunks and the story moves forward well as you’re reading. If you’re someone who used to be a bookworm and wanting to get back into reading or if you haven’t read in a while it’s a good book to get you back into the swing.

I’m very much enjoying it so far and looking forward to talking more about it when I’ve finished but I thought I’d write some of my initial thoughts.

I am a massive fan of the Headless Horseman myth. I’m not usually someone who likes spooky things but there’s something unique and enticing about the Headless Horseman. This time last year I read the graphic novel Hollow by Shannon Watters, Branden Boyer-White, and Berenice Nelle which was a pure delight and honestly one of my favourite graphic novels ever. I’ve pre-ordered the 2.0 version of the Headless Horseman Mythic Legions figure by The Four Horsemen, which I’m so excited to receive hopefully by the end of the year *fingers-crossed*. Basically the Headless Horseman myth is a bit of a favourite of mine and having another story is just *chef’s kiss*.

I’m enjoying the characters and relationships within the story. They feel real - even though it’s a period story and in a America (I live in Cymru) - and the world is different (though maybe not enough).

The romance is sweet and reminds me of some of the things I love the most about mine and my fiancé’s relationship. I always enjoy when a romance in a book reminds me of my fiancé because not only does it help me to know I’ve picked a good one because he truly is a dream come true but it also makes me appreciate him more!

There’s good movement in the story. A good mix of setting and plot that keeps you engaged and reading but isn’t all consuming (though books that are all consuming are delightful - looking at you ACOTAR series).

I should be finished at the end of the week and can say more.

#book cover #books and literature #bookshelf #books and reading #book review #bookworm #book blog #mythic legions #headless horseman #graphic novel #sleepy hollow #hollow #cymraeg #darllen #cymru #wales #welsh #book club #reading #reading club

[kalamees332]

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving

Hello again, Today I will talk about my 3rd story and its "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow ''. I am really excited to analyze this story. This story is written during the 19th century.

Whole of this story was in the town of Sleepy Hollow. People have seen a headless man riding on a horse. The horseman lost his head during war and wakes up every night from his burial, and goes out searching for his lost head. He was called the headless horseman. Ichabod is the main character and he gets invited to a party with Van Tassels. Katrina goes there also. Ichabod like Katrina. When everybody left, Ichabod stayed longer to tell Katrina that he likes her. Katrina rejects him and Ichabod is now depressed. So Ichabod rides home with his horse. He rides through his home and meets the headless horseman. The headless horseman starts chasing him. The headless horseman couldn't catch him so he threw a pumpkin that hit Ichabod's head and he was KO-d.

Now I'll be talking a bit about the characters. Ichabod Crane was the main character of the story. Ichabod is the schoolmaster and singing teacher of Sleepy Hollow, newly arrived from Connecticut. He is very tall and thin, with the large appetite and a greedy personality. He has no qualms about ending his workday early to go to the party at the Van Tassel farm. However, he is mostly kind to his students and uses the rod to discipline only the tougher ones. Ichabod enjoys superstitions and ghost stories very much and likes to talk to the townspeople about the Headless Horseman tale although it frightens him. Ichabod decides to marry Katrina mostly because of her money, thus showing his greed. But he also seems to love her as well. He is an excellent dancer, a scholar and one of the smartest men in town.

Brom Van Brunt was Ichabod's love rival. A tall, good-looking man who is very strong and known in the town for his heroic nature. The town has given him the nickname Brom Bones. He is an especially skilled horse rider and is mischievous but ultimately a good person. It is heavily implied that the Headless Horseman is actually Brom in disguise.

Baltus Van Tassel was Katrina's father. A wealthy farmer who is thriving in his business. Baltus is content on his farm if perhaps a little naive. He does not watch Katrina as closely as he perhaps ought to. But he is still a good father to her and not a boastful or proud man although he has a reason to be.

Hans Van Ripper was an older farmer that owned the farm that Ichabod stayed at on his last night in Sleepy Hollow. Hans is kind enough that he not only lends Ichabod a horse for the Van Tassel dinner, but he also organizes a search party when he fears that the schoolmaster has gone missing. However, he gives up when the townspeople do.

Katrina Van Tassel is the second supporting character and Ichabod's love interest, but she is also Bram's love interest. Her personality is not elaborated on much, but she is described in the same terms as one would use to describe fruit: blooming, plump, and rosy like one of her father's peaches. She is a difficult woman to impress in Sleepy Hollow, and her looks and her father's fortune make her a highly desirable woman in town.

Now I will end this blog with the moral of the story. Don't lose your mind over someone, who wouldn't mind losing you. I mean by that, if Ichabod asked Katrina out and got rejected. Ichabod shouldn't be sad now. It's like Don't let them play with your feelings, focus on what really matters.

This was a very great story. Maybe there were too many characters. I liked the Legend and the story. Thank you for reading my blog post again. Go check the next one out.

Kalamees4

Roy Lillend

[englishblogposts]

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"

Hello, guys!

Today I am going to analyze a short gothic fiction story that I read. The story is written by Washington Irving a short-story writer, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. His most famous work is also coincidentally the book I read and the one I will analyze and discuss today. The story is called "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow". It was written in the 19th century.

Let's start with analyzing the plot first. Before I can analyze the plot I need to tell you what the story is about and the major events that happened in the story. Many people are supposed to be seeing a headless man riding on a horse searching for his head in the small town of Sleepy Hollow. So basically what happened to the "Headless Horseman" was that there was a man whose head was shot off during the war and every night he awakes from his burial place to ride his horse to search for his missing head. One day Ichabod (the main character, we will come back to the characters later in this analysis) gets invited to a part of the Van Tassels. He primarily goes to the party, because there is a woman/ a host of the party named Katrina Van Tassel (a woman who Ichabod is in love with). He goes to the party and stays there a little bit longer than most of the other people to tell Katarina that he loves her. Katarina rejects Ichabod and he heartbrokenly starts to go back to his home. When he has left the party and is in the woods he encounters the Headless Horseman and starts running away from him, but the Headless Horseman starts chasing Ichabod, and eventually, after a not-so-small chase the Headless Horseman throws his decapitated head towards Ichabod and the head knocks Ichabod out and leaves him uncurious. The next morning Ichabods horse is found, but not Ichabod so the town starts searching for him but they do not find him. As Ichabod is not really anybody important (only a teacher) they eventually stop searching for him. Though many people from the town believe that the Headless Horseman took him. But there is also a theory that Brom (a man who also wanted to win Katarina's heart) dressed up as the Horseman to frighten Ichabod into leaving. It works, as Ichabod was never seen in the town again. I actually believe this theory, because Brom liked to do pranks and he also wanted Katarina to marry him so maybe it was just a way to get Ichabod out of the way and marry Katarina.

Now as we have summarized and analyzed the plot and the major events we can talk about the characters. Ichabod also called Ichabod Crane is the main character/protagonist in this story. Ichabod is a schoolmaster in the town of Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod is tall and he has a very big appetite. He also likes to listen to ghost stories and most likely believes in them himself. He also might have fear, as he believes in these ghost stories. In the part where he meets the Headless Horseman, he runs away from him/it which indicates that he is a coward or that he has cowardly behavior. He also wants to marry Katrina Van Tassel who is one of his students, which clearly shows that he is a weirdo.

As we just analyzed and talked about Ichabod and his will to marry Katrina Van Tassel, now let's talk about Brom. Brom is Ichabod's rival because they both want to marry Katrina Van Tassel, but as only one can marry her they have become rivals. Brom is strong and athletic, which already makes him pretty attractive because Ichabod is also pretty ugly so that might have been also one reason why Katrina Van Tassel rejected Ichabod and married Brom. He is also considered heroic or a hero in the town. He is also very skilled in horseback and he also likes pranks, which also proves the theory right of him being the Headless Horseman, in the end, to scare Ichabod and marry Katrina Van Tassel.

Now as we have talked about Ichabod and Brom the two men who wanted to marry Katrina Van Tassel let's talk about her. Katrina Van Tassel is one of Ichabods students. Katrina Van Tassel is a wealthy farmer's daughter. She is also said to be very beautiful and she also attracts many men from the town. Ichabod confronted her about him being in love with her, but she rejected him, later in the story after Ichabod went missing Katarina marries Brom, She is also considered a little bit flirty. She is also pretty independent because in the story she is described as she can do whatever she wants.

The story is set in a small town called Sleepy Hollow. The story is most likely to be set in the 19th century. It is also set in the forest in Sleepy Hollow where Ichabod encounters the Headless Horseman.

The theme of the story might be love because Ichabod and Brom fought for Katarina and they both confessed their love to her. The theme could also be supernatural, because the ghostly rider and, especially, his head also symbolize the tension between reality and imagination, between the natural and the supernatural. It could also be greed because Brom and Ichabod both wanted Katarina and they were kind of greedy for her. Ichabod was also referred to as greedy in the story.

I think that the moral of the story could be that some people are willing to do anything for love or that love is dangerous because if the theory is correct that Brom was the Headless Horseman and that he pranked Ichabod that would be pretty insane and bold, because Ichabod could have also died in the forest, if he would have been injured and not able to get up and run away he would have maybe starved to death. Also, life could be pretty hard, as Katarina rejected Ichabod. Another moral could be not to let superstition guide your actions and overwhelm your reason. Ichabod Crane is an intelligent man, but he has an unfortunate tendency to let his imagination run away with him. His superstitions influence his decisions, and this leads him to disaster.

Thank you for reading this week's blog post. It was a pleasure analyzing the story. I hope you had fun and I will be happy to present another analysis to you next week!

Kind regards,

Your Blogger.

#english

[gothicbookslover]

“The Legend of the Sleepy Hollow” Washington Irving

This week's gothic story “The Legend Of the Sleepy Hollow”. It is thought to be one of the greatest gothic short stories, written by Washington Irving. At first the story seems to be a normal fairy tale, but later it turns into a real horror.

What was the story about? Once upon a time there lived a teacher Ichabod, in a town called the Sleepy Hollow. He was an important figure, the only teacher in town and a choirmaster. Ichabod is told to be tall and lanky, with a high-beaked nose and large green eyes. He is a rather comic figure, with spindly arms dangling from too-short sleeves, feet like shovels, large ears, and a tiny flat head. He falls in love with a girl named Katrina, who is the daughter of the richest farmer in town. But wait, there is this one problem, a guy named Brom and he wants to kill Ichabod for taking his lady. Brom is like the villain of the story, he likes to pull ranks and bully people. After some time hiding away from Bron, he is invited to a party at Katrinas. Ichibod lends a horse from one of the people in town, the horse is old and not stable. The party turns out to be marvellous, with lots of food and drinks. After dancing, people gather around to tell stories and tales. Soon the conversation turns to horror stories and a story about the headless horseman, who haunts their town. It is told that he gallops around, trying to find his missing head and the people who get in their way go missing. After the party, Ichabod confesses his love to Katrina, but she leaves him. Going home crying on a horse, he hears someone following him. He remembers the story about the Headless horse and picks up his speed. The Horseman continues to follow Ichabod and the night turns into a crazy chase. Later the Horseman hits Ichabod and knocks him off his horse. In the morning Ichibon is gone.

Who was the narrator? The story is written in third person and the narrative is provided by Diedrich Knickerbocker, a made-up Dutch historian of Irving's imagination. He lived in Tary town near the Tappan Zee river. The narrator seems to know all about what is happening and is reliable. He suggests that The sleepy hollow town has a mysterious and strange quantity and has been haunted since unto the ages of ages.

There are many theories, what really happened to Ichabod. One of them is told by the narrator: After the terrifying night, Ichabod ran away to New York and became a politician.

There is also a theory that the whole night was supposed to be a harmless prank on Ichabod from Brom. He dressed up as the headless horseman and scared Ichabod for taking Katrina away from him. The joke went a bit too far and Ichabod died.

Or maybe the Headless Horseman was just the good old supernatural character. He was looking for a head and revenge, which he both took from Ichabod.

The headless horse is also used in other tales. He was a Hessian trooper who was killed during the Battle of White Plains on 28th October 1776. He was decapitated and the shattered remains of his head were left on the battlefield while his comrades hastily carried his body away. He rides along with a huge horse, carrying a sword and a pumpkin. The pumpkin represents the area's brutishness and the foolish behaviour of Ichabod. His black horse could symbolise death, mystery and evil. I think that the Headless horseman's character symbolises the tension between reality and imagination, between the natural and the supernatural, a past that never dies, which always haunts the living. Ichabon came from America and because the Headless horseman fought against America in that war, I think, maybe he was trying to remind him of the past and what his country did. Trying to get revenge.

At first the story seems like a normal folktale, a teacher lived in a small town. He fell in love with a girl and they got happily married. But the happy end didn't come, they didn't live happily ever after. Instead, a terrifying change of event happened. The folktale changed into a gothic story. With the supernatural and uncanny character. The eerie and creepy forest, with an old church. A character going missing and the suspension.

Overall the story was quite interesting and took surprising turns. The moral of the story is that things can change and they don't always go your way and how you planned and not always does the good win. Also that the past matters and always catches up to the present, you can't escape who you are. Thank You for reading, see you next week!

[gothicblog]

Blog entry about "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving

This week's topic is (drumroll please)... “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving.

What is the plot about? Well, it's about a man, Ichabod Crane, who is a strict teacher in a village called the Sleepy Hollow. He decides that he wants to marry the fairest girl in the settlement- a farmer's only daughter called Katrina Van Tassel. But of course, no story comes without a villain, and that is Brom van Brunt (nicknamed BROM BONES). Brom is basically the meanest guy in the village, who acts rude and pulls pranks on people. Brom, similar to Ichabod, has his mind set on marrying Katrina.  One night the Van Tassel family throws a party on their property. Many people attend, including our protagonist, Ichabod Crane and antagonist Brom van Brunt. Everything at the event goes right for Crane- until Brom Bones and other people start telling scary tales. The scariest of them is told by Brom- about a headless Hessian horseman, who´s head came off, because of a hit from a cannon.  According to the tale, the horseman looks for people to take heads from. A bit later, the party is over and people start heading home, including Ichabod. Then he starts hearing noises, like the sound a horse makes, when it's galloping. He looks, but doesn´t see anyone. The teacher walks a little further, reaching the bridge, where he encounters the headless horseman. Next day, his horse, his hat, and a shattered pumpkin were found. Crane never showed up to the schoolhouse. Katrina Van Tassel ended up marrying Brom. 

The first half of the story seemed like a normal fairytale to me- a schoolteacher lives in an idyllic small town, falls for the prettiest woman there who he wishes to marry. But there's another man who wants to marry the same woman. The woman chooses to marry the schoolteacher and they live happily ever after. But, the second half is a horror/gothic story. I knew that this story was a gothic story, but it just seemed like the two would have a happily ever after. Then suddenly, as Crane leaves the gathering, the story takes a big turn.  The first actually scary moment was when Ichabod was walking through the woods, thinking some of his last thoughts, without him even knowing that they were going to be the last.

Let's talk about the gothic elements of this short story. The surprising truth is, that from the first part, you won't find any! The second half is a different story- there is a creepy forest, overall eerie setting, a big suspense moment and supernatural events. The point of view? Third person. 

What if the Hessian soldier really wasn't responsible for what happened to the teacher? Theory- Bones, being the meanie that he was, could have easily intended to pull a prank on Crane, but the latter was very ashamed that Brom outsmarted him, and so, Ichabod could have run away to another city. 

Theory no. 2- It was meant to be a simple (and horrifying!) prank on Crane, but something went wrong. Brom, by jump-scaring the teacher, caused Crane to fall into the brook and drown.  Brom could have released Gunpowder (Ichabod's horse) so that townspeople would find it and assume that there were paranormal forces involved with Ichabod's disappearance (same goes for the hat.) 

The main genre in this story is that sometimes, evil wins. But that doesn't mean that good can't fight against it and win another battle.

Any metaphors? I think that the headless horsman could represent Cranes fear of losing Katrina Van Tassel to Brom. At the end, he´s taken over by his fears.

The moral- life isn't a fairytale. Everything doesn't turn out as we planned, and the best example is in this story. I already predicted a happy ending, where all works out great for everyone, but in reality, it didn´t. Our protagonist went missing, the teacher's love married his enemy and to this day, no one knows what happened to Crane! Life takes turns, and we can never know what the next one could be. Maybe it's something good, or maybe something bad, but no one can ever be sure that they know all things about how their life will be. 

Could this story take place in real life? Of Course it can (apart from the headless horseman part). Imagine this- a man falls in love with a woman, only to find out that there is another man who loves the same woman. The other man plays a prank on the first man and a fatal accident occurs. The surviving man marries the woman. 

Until next time! (as always, next week's topic will be revealed when I post the review)

#the headless horseman #katrina van tassel #sleepy hollow #the legend of sleepy hollow #headless horseman #ichabod crane #washington irving

[archived-headlessmania]

𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝

                              Tʜᴇʀᴇ·ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ.

THE BACKSTORY: A family connected by two bloodlines. A bloodline of hunters. A bloodline of witches. By nature, two enemies. It isn’t until centuries later, two individuals from the bloodline meet. They were suppose to be cursed, but that didn’t stop the two from marrying and having their seven children. They loved each other and their children more than life itself. Maybe you’ve heard of them. Ichabod Crane and Katrina Van Tassel. Maybe you’ve heard their story. The wrong one. And it all started in the quiet town of Sleepy Hollow. 

1790′s - 45 years ago. Before the Crane’s were in Sleepy Hollow... 

     The Crane family discovered supernatural forces during the Revolutionary War. After a rumored and won attack by werewolves, that’s when their lifestyle started. The discovery of vampires, werewolves, witches, and more. They created an empire around them. Alliances, famous discoveries, an entire library over the past three centuries filled with writings of all the Cranes. The Cranes had truly being the first family to be known as supernatural hunters. 

     50 years ago, Ichabod Crane was born. Living in the town of Sleepy Hollow. As five years past, he finds himself a best friend in a local boy. Brom Bones. The Bones family ; another family of hunters. They were the ones who slayed the headless horseman in Sleepy Hollow centuries ago. Or, so the rumor goes. The Bones family was partially famous in Sleepy Hollow. Ichabod and Brom’s formed a friendship, until one day 45 years ago, that changed forever. When they both locked eyes on a new little girl in town. Katrina Van Tassel.

1790′s - 45 years ago. Before the Van Tassel’s were in Sleepy Hollow... 

     Before we can introduce the Van Tassel family, we must introduce the Whaley family. You’ll see why later. The Whaley family was a rich bloodline of gun salesmen. Oh, and supernatural hunters. They did not consider themselves hunters until the 1800’s. It was rumored a Crane saving them from an attack led to the loss of a loved one, which started a centuries old rivalry and their hunt of supernaturals. The Cranes would have mercy on the innocent supernatural beings. The Whaley’s had.. Different ways. Anything that God could have not possibly brought to their earth was slain. No questions asked. 95 years ago, Thomas Whaley was born. One of the best yet most ruthless hunters out there. But, that was what made him the best. He was ruthless. Birthing two sons and a daughter he could even careless for. Unless they were good hunters. 15 years later, a soft side in him is showed when he met a significantly younger woman named Anna. Anna Van Tassel. 

     The Van Tassel family stems from a long bloodline of witches, previously known as the Lovett Coven. The men are given a special ability if worthy. The women have a gift and magic flowing through their veins. Anna Van Tassel was a witch herself. She had run away from her coven for a fresh start. Or maybe an act of rebellion. That was the rumor. The truth was her coven was murdered and Anna the only one left. She would do anything to get out of her circumstances.  Anna meets an older, richer man, who can do that for her. Thomas Whaley. What better way than to seduce one of the member’s of the famous Whaley family hunters? Their relationship developed quickly. Five years in, the twenty five year old Anna gave birth to her first daughter, Thomas’s fourth child, Katrina Whaley. 

     50 years ago, Katrina Van Tassel’s was born. Or should we say Katrina Whaley. The family was happy. Which only lasted five years. Thomas discovered where Anna came from. One night in her sleep, Thomas killed Anna. Suicide is what they rule it. The only hope to make his pride and joy Katrina Whaley pure away from that corrupted bloodline was to marry another legacy. Another hunter. Katrina would never be told of her witchcraft, not on Thomas’s watch. Her father moved east to Sleepy Hollow. Bright blues eyes were longing for a new start. Her new start begun that day. When she met Ichabod and Brom. 

45 years - 30 years ago: 

     45 years ago, the three five years olds met and became the best of friends. None of the rivalry or history mattered to them. The three went off on their own. As they grew older, Brom began to fall for Katrina. It was her looks, her family richest, and the idea of the union of the Bones and Whaley family that struck his eye. Ichabod began to put a wedge in that. 

      35 years ago, the fifteen year old Ichabod and Katrina fell in love. It was clear as they grew older, Ichabod couldn’t live without Katrina. It was her heart, the way that she laughed with him, the moments they spent in silence. The rivalry between the Crane’s and The Whaley’s meant nothing to them. Katrina could trust Ichabod with anything. Even expressing to him she’s always known about her abilities. And always known the cause of her mother’s untimely death. 

     30 years ago, the twenty year old Ichabod and Katrina married. Brom Bones as the unwilling best man. The two were blinded by their love for one another. While one of three began to plot his own revenge. 

25 years - 15 years ago:

     25 years ago, they hadn’t heard from their good friend Brom in years. Ichabod and Katrina set their worries aside and began a family quickly. Four children were born, a fifth on the way. With Thomas’s untimely passing, they had inherited all of the Whaley and Van Tassel inheritance. They were set for life. Katrina put hunting beside her. Ichabod didn’t for a while until being begged by Katrina. They became just another rich family in Sleepy Hollow. And they lived happily ever after... Oh, how they wish that was true. But there was no happily ever after for them. 

     17 years ago, a new born baby that they claimed was there last. Some of their children had discovered their new powers. They were just another family who had a small secret to hide. One day seventeen years ago, there was a knock on the door. Oh, how Katrina wished she never opened it. To see the face of a beaten and bruised Brom Bones. 

     They urged him inside. There was something about him that was different. He begged Ichabod to help him. Claiming the headless horseman from centuries ago was back. Plotting revenge on all his family from what they did centuries ago. Brom was the last one standing. Despite Katrina’s disliking and gut feeling about this, Ichabod went into that fogging night with Brom. There was only one man who came back out of it. Brom Bones. Brom said Ichabod gave up his life to protect him from the headless horseman and he disappeared. But, it was all over now and Sleepy Hollow was safe again. 

     A year passed. Brom had been helping Katrina with the children. A strange soft spot began to grow from Brom. Katrina didn’t know if she was desperate as a hopeless widow in mourning. Katrina started a relationship with Brom.

     15 years ago, it was only a year after her relationship with Brom started. Katrina got sick. As she grew sick, the witch’s eyes began to open. It felt like morning sickness. But, it wasn’t. It was like -- a reaction to a bad spell. Katrina had never been sick a day in her life. It was a mix of her magic and her built up immune system. It felt like a cold that was never going away. She hated how Brom was taking care of her all the time. Being more smothering than ever. There was something wrong. Whether it’s a change of heart or maybe she was cursed, she needed to know. One doomed late night, Katrina was walking into Brom’s office. There was a book. Stolen from Crane’s library, clearly. Locked up in a case. It looked like it had been there for centuries. With all her might, she cracked it open and began to read: 

     “A new discovery this week as we leave Sleepy Hollow. Many called him The Headless Horseman. The headless horseman was not a demon from hell like the townspeople thought, but a creature known as a Dullahan that was breed and born from this earth. A Dullahan, otherwise known as Gan Ceann, is known to be an embodiment the celtic god Crom Cruach. But, that isn’t true. They are a form of fae turned dark. Dullahan’s come from a bloodline of dark fae magic. They are similar to the more sinister witches I have encountered. They are magic users that walk and talk just like us. Horrifying beyond belief, their magic can sense death. When I encountered this entity, its head was in fact in it’s hand. It’s weakness was just that. Its head. Their powers are the strongest yet more vulnerable. I know this by setting the head aflame. It was only then I see that the burnt face was from a well known family here in Sleepy Hollow. I pray that this magic isn’t hereditary. There has been no proof of such. With a heavy heart, I gave the glory to the family whom this headless horseman was from. The Bones family. - Phinehas Crane, 6 October, 1795. ” 

     Katrina dropped the book. The thud of the book only to follow the sound of a door creaking behind her. Blue eyes water, looking up to the shadow made from the light in the hallway. It was Brom’s shadow. She could tell by the broad shoulders. But, there was something different. His fists were balled up. In his left hand, dangling a head where his should’ve been sitting.  

#( bio ; verse ) #( verse ; family don't end in blood )

[chaoticsleepdeprived]

Some high IQ literary analysis

50 IQ- The Headless Horseman is the villain 100 IQ- Braham Bones is the villain 200 IQ- The Headless Horseman doesn't exist 400 IQ- Braham Bones is the Headless Horseman 800 IQ- Ichabod is the villain 1600 IQ- Katrina is the villain 3200 IQ- Ichabod is the Headless Horseman 6400 IQ- Ichabod doesn't exist

#legend of sleepy hollow #literary analysis #maybe katrina is the headless horseman #the real villain was #the friends we made along the way #headless horseman #ichabod crane

[bakerstreethound]

Science of a Soul

Relationship: Ichabod Crane x reader

Warnings: swearing and mentions of murder

Summary: As a servant in the Van Tassel household, you wouldn’t believe in a million years you’d attract the eye of a certain Constable Crane sent from London to investigate the mysterious murders happening in your small town. 

Word Count: 442

A/N: Well, it’s spooky season so I couldn’t resist writing a fic from a Halloween movie I’ve come to love. I sincerely hope you all enjoy! 

==================================

“It was a horseman, a dead one. Headless.” A terrified Ichabod gripped the sheets, his face pale in the moonlight.

“What is the meaning of this?” 

You turned to Katrina who now held the shaking fully grown man in her steady arms.  

“The Horseman has struck again.”

“Shit.”

“Don’t speak so!” Katrina admonished.

“Yeah, propriety matters so much when a murderous madman is running loose and everyone is quite literally, losing their heads. Well, Katrina, fuck propriety.”

“Would you both be quiet?” Ichabod, through some miracle, had regained his composure.

“Katrina, you can go.” He motioned with his unclenched hand, pulling away from her embrace. She shut the door without another word, but you had a feeling she was secretly harboring resentment towards you. After all, you were merely a servant girl with no connections, no fortune, and no family.  

“What’s the meaning of this, Ichabod?” 

“We’re about to catch ourselves a horseman.” 

His eyes gleamed in mischief before he tossed back the sheets, leaving you to admire his loose shirt exposing more of his pale pearlescent skin. 

“You’ve gone mad.”

“Not today, maybe in the future, perhaps. Turn around, dear.” 

You rolled your eyes, obeying his command as you occupied yourself with the dreary view of the moors. The fog hung low in the sky, wind whispering eerily in your ear. You loved these days, but couldn’t fathom, nor deal with anyone else being murdered. 

You wanted to get away from this hell, run away with Ichabod to London, where you’d imagined he’d welcome you with open arms. But what were you anyways? You had nothing to offer him but the very clothes on your back. 

“How do I look?” His breath, cool on your neck, sent an involuntary shudder down your spine. 

You turned on your heel, daring to loop an arm around his shoulders. Propriety be damned. The faintest smile graced your features as you leaned into him. 

“Presentable enough, dear.”

“Are you mocking me?”

You felt his hands, nimble and steady, his fine surgeon hands circle around your waist. You couldn’t think of anything else. The Van Tassels, the murderous horseman running rampant through the streets, the countless murders, all mattered for naught in that moment. 

When his lips met yours, all you felt was him, the man you knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with. Every beating of your heart you’d give him for another moment like this. Your pulse raged, thrumming as fiercely as the hooves of the horseman’s prized stallion. 

“Ichabod.” 

“Shh…” 

He brought a finger to your lips, smiling warmly. 

“There’s not much time. We’ve got ourselves a horseman to catch.”  

******

@bakerstreethound​ @disneymarina​ @pandaqueen7799​ @viper-official​ @madshelily​ @deepestfirefun​ @sherlockfanficwriting​ @clussysposts​ @my-crazy-obsessions-jaci​ @ravencatart​ 

Sleepy Hollow tags: @siriusly-padfoot​ @littledanette

#Sleepy Hollow #sleepy hollow 1999 #johnny depp #christina ricci #ichabod crane #ichabod x reader #the legend of sleepy hollow #headless horseman #halloween #spooky season #halloween fics #writetober #1999 #katrina van tassel #the headless horseman

[karizard-ao3]

Eren dresses as the headless horseman for Halloween. With a pumpkin for his head. This is [spoilers] literally the most befitting of costumes for him lol

I'm cracking up. It would be perfect. I think Eren has exactly what it takes to terrorize a man in the woods at night and now I want to read the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and pretend it's him. Actually, I'm going to see if I can borrow it on audiobook right now and listen to it while I make dinner. I'm going to save this as a draft and come back to it after I've finished the story because, I'm ashamed to admit, the version I'm most familiar with is the Disney cartoon version which I watched multiple times as a kid.

Okay, back and I have to say, the Disney version is very accurate. You almost don't need to read the story at all. But I did and I am here to say that Eren Jaeger as Brom Bones and Mikasa as Katrina Von Tassel is so fun. I don't care who you cast as Ichabod, but imagine Eren being so jealous of Mikasa having another suitor (who she's really just using to make Eren hurry up and propose) that he disguises himself as a headless ghost and drives him out of town.

I love picturing it as a modern retelling where maybe instead of a ghost on horseback its a phantom biker, so Eren dresses up as the classic headless horseman, then goes ahead and has a costume change and goes after his rival on his motorcycle as the modern headless biker. Although, honestly, it doesn't have to be a motorcycle. He could just chase him down the street on foot and still be terrifying.

Although... is it weird that I picure Sasha Braus as our most likely Ichabod?

I realize this is all over the place. I hope it makes sense.

#eren jaeger #eremika #mikasa ackerman #ask me things #my asks #answered asks #attack on titan #headcanons #Legend of Sleepy Hollow au #I have not seen the 1999 film of the same name which stars Johnny Depp #headless horseman

[mothforpresident]

Official Summary

This was written by Adam Wachter and is posted on his website

“Autumn engulfs the sleepy village of Tarrytown, about an hour up the Hudson River from New York City, as Ichabod Crane walks to his first day of work teaching music at Sleepy Hollow High School (“Tarrytown”). Katrina, the principal’s assistant, welcomes him and shows him to his classroom (“Katrina’s Welcome Song”). Excited at the prospect of a new friend from the big city, she invites him to her house for dinner (“My New Gay Best Friend”).

“That evening, Ichabod arrives at Katrina’s house. She is finishing cooking, and sends him to hang out with her husband, Brom, in the other room. Brom, a history professor at the local community college, is watching a football game, and Ichabod is immediately attracted to him (“Four Downs To The Ten-Yard Line”). The three sit down to dinner (“Dinner For Three - Part 1”). Katrina complains about being stuck living in such a small town, but Ichabod remembers that his life in NYC had its challenges, too (“Back Home”). As the dinner progresses, Brom thinks Katrina is drinking too much wine, and Ichabod can’t help but feel there’s tension between them (“Dinner For Three - Part 2”). After dinner, a very drunk Katrina reveals personal secrets and longings to Ichabod (“What Do You Do?”) while Brom grades history papers in the other room and dwells on his own frustrations with his career and marriage (“History”).

“At a local Narcotics Anonymous meeting, Ichabod tells the story of his recent issues with drug addiction and hopes that moving out of New York will help aid in his recovery (“Goes Away”). Brom and Katrina get into another argument at home, and she calls Ichabod to ask his advice. He tries to remain impartial, but she infers that she should leave her husband and secretly starts packing.

“Brom visits Ichabod at school to get advice on smoothing over his issues with Katrina, and Ichabod suggests a romantic gesture, maybe a getaway of some kind. Ichabod is also confused by Brom’s good-natured flirtation, and he starts to wonder if perhaps there is an underlying mutual interest between the two of them.

“That weekend, Katrina decides to finally walk out on Brom (“Down The Stairs”), but he surprises her with an outing (“Apple Picking Song”). She leaves him crestfallen, and Brom discovers it was Ichabod who both convinced her to go, and, he believes, set him up for disappointment with his getaway idea. A student’s folklore-inspired essay on a local Headless Horseman legend inspires him to take revenge on Ichabod and get Katrina back.

“Katrina moves in with Ichabod, who is now feeling divided between his loyalty to her and his attraction to her husband. Since his wife left, Brom has been more flirtatious and attentive than ever. At another NA meeting, Ichabod bemoans his situation (“The Man In The Middle”).

“Brom invites Ichabod over for a get-together on Halloween. Katrina is torn about missing Brom and her old life and decides to join. The three carve pumpkins, hand out candy to trick-or-treaters, and Brom tells a ghost story about the local Headless Horseman’s ghost (“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”), which scares the easily-spooked Ichabod. An argument between Brom and Katrina reveals another dark secret about their past together, and she leaves, which prompts Ichabod to finally reveal his romantic feelings for Brom (“When You’re Near”). They kiss, and Brom, explaining that he needs to be more “altered” in order to explore anything further, convinces the susceptible Ichabod to do drugs with him – though Brom secretly doesn’t ingest any himself. Katrina returns, and Brom tells Ichabod to meet him on the bridge in the nearby cemetery.

“Later, in the cemetery, Ichabod is alone (“Ichabod”). He is both frightened by his surroundings and excited at the prospect of being with Brom. As the drugs kick in, he hears the sounds of a horse approaching, then, terrified, sees a giant Headless Horseman, who throws a jack-o-lantern at Ichabod, knocking him off the bridge and into the cold waters below.

“One year later, Katrina wonders what ever happened to that Ichabod they briefly knew, who was never seen again after that night. Brom shrugs it off; after all, they didn’t really know him that well. Katrina, despondent, returns up the stairs to her loveless marriage (“Another Halloween”).”

#tarrytown #tarrytown musical #adam wachter #andy mientus #brom bones #ichabod crane #jeremy jordan #krysta rodriguez #katrina van tassel #ichabod #tarrytown synopsis

[avrelia]

Remembering Sleepy Hollow

Recently I’ve been thinking about the Sleepy Hollow. The tv series one. As a tragic example of the creators being totally blind about the thing they created and destroying everything that was good about it in the process. There is no question that the creators should be able to tell the story they want to tell. The problem was, the story they wanted to tell – the one of Rip Van Winkle, a man out of his time, wasn’t the one anyone wanted to watch. They actually pitched it initially as the updated Rip Van Winkle, weren’t approved and moved on to updated Sleepy Hollow idea. (I read it somewhere and cannot find the source right now). Anyway. Judging by the way it went for four seasons they still wanted their story to be about a lonely white man from 18th century finding himself in 21st one.

Fair enough. The problem was it was not the story we wanted to watch, and it was not the story we initially saw – in season one. And we, the viewers, loved that story! It was a story of two sisters, two Black girls, Abbie and Jenny Mills who were both close and the opposite to each other. Sudden appearance of the inexplicable and terrifying Headless Horseman made Abbie, a policewoman in a small town in Upstate New York to re-think a lot of what she was convinced she knew about life and to battle apocalyptic forces with a weird man out of time, Ichabod Crane. It was crazy, it was glorious, it was delightful. The relationship between Ichabod Crane and the present, 21st century were a lot of fun, and his bouncing of Abbie Mills no-nonsense attitude had a lot of sparks. The supporting cast was amazing, and they all seemed to be fully alive characters, even the ones that were actually dead. And were played by the people of color (many of them, that is). The only problem seemed to be Katrina, the wife of Crane, stuck in the purgatory. The only thing we knew about that she is a powerful witch. Which is not really a character by itself.

Many hate her, but I can’t – I can’t hate an empty space. It was not her fault the was nothing else to do. Maybe another actress could have invented a personality for the heroine by herself, but it was really the writers’ job. And the only thing writers could come up with for the second season was the love triangle.  I still has no idea about her. Why was she a witch? Why she married Ichabod? What she loved? Whereas the characters played by Nichole Beharie and Lindsay Greenwood, Orlando Jones, John Cho, Clancy Brown, Nicholas Gonzales, etc were memorable and understandable.  

Anyway, the creators seemed to be really in love with Ichabod Crane, and they believed the fans, too. So they got rid of all the interesting characters beside him and turned it all into a family melodrama. Abbie Mills got relegated to the sidekick until the opportunity arose for her to sacrifice herself for the pretty white man. And they got surprised when everyone hated it.

I still have my dvds of season one, full of delight and hope. But every time I think about the Sleepy Hollow, I feel regret – the show wasted great actors and great possibilities and the goodwill of the viewers so thoroughly by not seeing what they created and why it worked at the beginning. Alas. But we’ll always have the beautiful scenes when Abbie Mills and Frank Irving were mocking Ichabod Crane.

#my posts #sleepy hollow #sleepy hollow tv #abbie mills #jenny mills

[pika-ace]

So one of my favorite movies to watch when I was little was that Disney combo movie called The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. I don't think the story of Ichabod would work for an AU,but the Mr. Toad one probably could,since that one is from the book The Wind in the Willows. Bonus if you somehow make Ichabod work,lol

Ironically, we learned about the books first XD My sister read Legend of Sleepy Hollow for third grade and then my Dad read it aloud to us so I could hear the story. And of course, we got hyped when we found out there was a cartoon of it so our parents got us the DVD for Valentine’s Day. We mostly watched it for Ichabod because we already had a FAR superior Wind in the Willows movie adaptation (we still liked it though, it was funny :3)

Yeah, Ichabod is difficult since there’s only like…three main characters if you don’t count the Headless Horseman; Ichabod, Brom Bones, and Katrina :/ 

*gets sudden idea* Uness…we make the barrio guys people in the small town where Ichabod lives…and we make Ichabod RUBEN…but with a better ending! I’ve done it! I’ve cracked it! >:D 

I’m dedicating this to you, @kikabennet and @thisstableground >:3c

SO! Ruben is *John Mulaney voice* ‘New in Town’ and is the new school teacher. He’s a good guy, does his job, nothing special except for his smart mind. However, our Brom Bones of this AU, Ian Price from DNH, is not having it. I’m not quite sure what would pit Ian against Ruben in this case, since I don’t know who would be Katrina or if we’d even NEED one (cause honestly, she is just a trophy in the story, nothing more) but hey, maybe Ruben had a crush on a random bachelorette in town that Ian was also after, which spurred him into action to tease and prank the poor guy. But Ian mostly preyed on how easily scared Ruben was, and nothing freaked poor Ruben out MORE than the Tale of the Headless Horseman. And one night, the story gets a bit too…real and Ian goes WAY too far. 

So while Ruben’s riding home on his horse named Jason (yes Jason, you don’t get off the hook either so you get to be the horse, deal with it >:P) Ruben suddenly comes across the Headless Horseman and they go through the whole chase scene (which looking back, is a PHENOMENAL scene; I’m honestly glad I wasn’t a toddler when I saw this, it probably would’ve freaked me out) and it ends with poor Ruben getting a flaming pumpkin lobbed at his head. The pumpkin hits at the same time his saddle slips and Ruben falls off of Jason and he passes out from pure shock when he sees the Headless Horseman laughing down at him. This is it; he’s gonna die, his head is gonna be taken by the ghost.

…Or that WOULD’VE happened…if this thing wasn’t Ian in disguise. Honestly, he REALLY didn’t think he’d actually HIT Ruben with the pumpkin, but he doesn’t care enough to, you know, take responsibility for a prank gone wrong. So he just ditches him. When dawn breaks, local store owner Usnavi and his cousin/surrogate son Sonny are walking to open early (probably for a special sale or something they’re putting out) and they happen across Ruben sprawled on the road covered in shattered pumpkin remains. They quickly take him back to their home and Usnavi orders Sonny to watch him so he can get the store open and they can figure it out when he gets back. Sonny does so and comforts Ruben when he finally wakes up. He immediately starts babbling about the Headless Horseman and how the stories were true and how he doesn’t know why he’s alive but that the ghost is probably gonna come for him again before Sonny finally calms him down.

When Usnavi gets involved at the end of the day, he and Sonny don’t know WHAT to think. The Headless Horseman is OBVIOUSLY just a silly legend that the town loves to death (no pun intended) but the fear in Ruben’s eyes is pretty damn genuine. Whatever he saw, whatever he went through, it was BAD. But there’s no way he was chased by the REAL Headless Horseman…right?

Now like the book and the movie, the opening is left ambiguous. Was Ian ever discovered as the one who assaulted Ruben with a Headless Horseman costume? Did Ruben stay with Usnavi and Sonny, or did the whole event scare him away from the town for good? And was Ian the only Headless Horseman chasing Ruben…or was there something else at work? We may never know…and you can end this story whichever way that makes you feel better. (I stand firm on my theory that Brom Bones was disguised as the Horseman in the book and that he just scared Ichabod away) What do you think?

So this turned out to be longer than expected so I think I’ll save Mr. Toad for a Wind in the Willows ask in the future ;)

#in the heights aus #the legend of sleepy hollow #the adventures of ichabod and mr. toad #ruben marcado #usnavi de la vega #sonny de la vega #now i have that damn ichabod crane song stuck in my head thanks >:P

[spaceorphan18]

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

And we’re back, wrapping up the last of the anthologies (yay!!).  I don’t remember if I’ve seen this before - but since it’s much more accessible than pretty much all of the other anthologies, I’m pretty sure I was aware of it as a kid - and may have seen each of these individually.  

Artistically - we’re getting back on point.  The quality of animation is much higher here than any thing else since Bambi, which is refreshing in itself.  I also welcome back the idea of an actual story -- even if this is two stories in one.  I realize Disney was kind of obsessed with this whole Fantasia-esque idea of putting animation with music, but it’s nice to have an actual full on couple of stories to work with - even if they’re, well, weird.  

The Wind in the Willows - 

 This is one of those things that I’m not entirely sure where to begin.  I’m not sure if I’ve ever read the source material (though am familiar with it).  The thing about it -- and google confirms -- is that this set of children’s stories are kind of a stream of conscious.  They’re a collection of short stories strung together that you’d read your child at bedtime.  And being that this was almost 150 years ago, the stories didn’t necessarily have to make any sense as long as there was adventure.  

I’m not entirely sure how well that translates to animation and film -- where (unless you’re going for something completely avant garde -- and this is Disney, so no), stream of conscious narratives don’t really make sense.  Disney needs a standard plot to work.  

So - here’s the plot of the film.   A (suggestively mentally ill) Toad with way too much money trades his house to a bunch of weasels for a car that the weasels stole in the first place, and therefore Toad (and friends) have to get his house back.  I mean -- it kind of works on paper.  It’s just kind of... weird on film.  

First of all, everything is set in England in the 1890s (cause Disney and Co really enjoys that aesthetic).  And we have a Rat, a Mole, a (Scottish) Badger, and Toad as main characters and the animation and tone is calm and clean, and all of the characters, except Toad, are pretty straightforward and sensical.  Which is deeply contrasting to Toad being a complete whack job.  

And while this film is tight and objectively very well animated -- the logic of the world (since it’s based on nonsensical, stream of conscious kids’ stories) doesn’t make any sense.  Why are there talking animals and talking humans? How does a Toad own a horse? How is Toad getting his money in the first place? Why is wanting a car a form of mental illness? Why does Toad not have any repercussions from escaping from jail?  Yes - I realize the answer to all of these is that it’s a children’s story that doesn’t have to make sense.  But maybe that’s just the problem of me being older, and this being a story that takes place such a long time ago.  It doesn’t work for my modern, adult sensibilities.  

That said - it’s really not a bad little film, even if through most of it I was a little -- WTF?? through most of it.  

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - 

Let me start by saying this - the animation for this one is rather well done, too.  They kind of give it the whole Americana 1790s look, and while it could have leaned more Gothic, the style suited for a children’s film.  It was also distinctly different than Wind in the Willows, which makes for an interesting contrast.  And that is about all the nice things I have to say about this one.  

Because it’s just stupid. 

You can’t really make a children’s fluff film out of an old Gothic ghost-story.  I mean you could try - but if it was the 1940s, but it probably won’t go very well.  

First of all, we have Ichabod Crane, a school teacher that has the hearts of all the women in the town? I don’t understand why, really, he just shows up and eats all their food and that’s about it.  (Though - I was amused that the entire opening song with his nose in the book reminded me of the opening song in Beauty and the Beast.)  I’m not so sure why he’s all that great - and the narrative doesn’t try to convince you that hard either. 

And then there’s the Gaston-ish kinda guy, a big brute who doesn’t like the school teacher - especially when they begin fighting over a girl (she’s 18yo and these dudes are at least over 25).  And this is where I really begin to have issues.  First of all, the only reason Katrina is like is that she’s a) rich and b) pretty - in that order.  Ichabod can’t stop daydreaming about the wealth he’ll have if he marries her.  She’s not even a character - she has no agency and the text literally says she’s a prize.  And a big part of the his short is these two idiots trying to ‘win’ her over by giving her shit.  And outdoing themselves. 

And then there’s a sequence where the big brute guy uses short, fat, and ugly woman who is obviously into him to make a switch with Ichabod for Katrina.  It doesn’t work and ugly woman is thrown into a closet and locked away because - ew.  ...  I am just so over these narratives.  I don’t even care if that’s how it was back then (yes, I know) but this is what kids were learning from.  Women are prizes to be one, but only if they’re pretty.  I’m just done with it.  

Anyway - then there’s the scary, headless horseman stuff that everyone remembers.  This sequence starts out rather well, and the design for it is really amazing - I give the animators a lot of credit here.  But then the chase devolves into stupid comedy bits (because it’s a kids’ film and can’t really be scary, unlike Snow White...) and then it ends.  

Really, it’s kind of abrupt -- and I realize this is how the original story goes.  But, brute guy gets Katrina cause he won by getting rid of Ichabod.  Ichabod actually gets some widow and a lot of food.  And haha, the horseman isn’t realy you sillies.  What even is the message here?  I don’t get it.  Gah. 

Final Thoughts - The Wind in the Willows is kind of insane, but rather entertaining for the little thing that it is.  Sleepy Hollow is stupid.  The end.  Let’s move on to full length films again, cause I’m just done with these.  

#thoughts on disney