Monday, March 15, 2021

Disney Loteria cards

I recently bought a Disney version of a loteria game from someone on Etsy. It's a really cute idea and I like it a lot, but there are a lot of cards missing from the game. Obviously, in any updated version of the game, the racist Apache and negrito cards should be removed. However, there are so many cards missing that would be relatively easy to find! In searching for "disney loteria" on Etsy, I immediately found a different version of Disney loteria from another Etsy seller. Therefore, I decided to write up the ideal version of Disney loteria, with the different/best options for each card. 

el gallo - The version I bought has Hei Hei the rooster from Moana, while the other version has Panchito Pistoles from The Three Caballeros. They're both valid, but I'd choose Panchito over Hei Hei because he's Mexican. It just feels right to have him be the rooster in a game of Disney loteria, doesn't it? He's Disney and Mexican.

el diablito - My version turned this into "la diabla" and put Cruella de Vil, which is perfect. The other version has Hades, which both works and doesn't, as Greek mythology is far older than Christian theology, and probably Jewish theology as well. He is the ruler of the underworld, but he's not evil like the devil is (although he is the villain in Hercules). Overall I think Cruella is a better choice, as her name literally is devil. You could also use any of the devils from that one piece in the original Fantasia.

la dama - My version's choice here was Minnie Mouse, which makes sense. The other version put Lady from Lady and the Tramp, which is a nice little bilingual joke. Lady = dama. I do want Minnie to be featured in this game but I love the pun aspect of putting Lady. 

el catrín - Coincidentally, my version put Mickey Mouse, who is in white tie (la dama y el catrín are kind of paired). The other version actually has Goofy in white tie. I love the idea of putting, like, a penguin here instead (Mary Poppins), or like Bert with the penguins (if I remember correctly they're dressed the same). 

el paraguas - the umbrella. Both versions got it right here, by putting Mary Poppins and her umbrella.

la sirena - Ariel (The Little Mermaid) for both, obviously. Mine actually went out of their way to find a picture of her where she's posing like the original illustration.

la escalera - the bookshelf ladder from Beauty and the Beast, naturally, for both.  I highly approve.

la botella - My version has the bottle Smee is drinking from (Peter Pan), while the other one used the Drink Me bottle from Alice in Wonderland. I prefer the second option; it's much more iconic, and the picture of Smee drinking would go better under el borracho. Isn't Tinkerbell trapped in a bottle as well? That's another option.

el barril - My version has Pooh with a barrel of honey, while the other has the older brother from Onward standing in a barrel (I've only seen that movie once so I don't remember if that happened or not). Doesn't Pooh eat honey from a honey pot, not a barrel? I'd personally use the barrel that the snake gets stuck in in Robin Hood.

el árbol - Mine has Tarzan swinging in the trees, while the other has what I believe to be the big, lit-up tree from Disney Animal Kingdom. I prefer the latter, but not everyone is going to know that reference. I would have chosen Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas.

el melón - Melón can mean either melon or specifically cantaloupe. My version left this one out, and I can't see if the other did as well. I'd use the melon Rafiki uses to paint in The Lion King.

el valiente - My version used Hercules, while the other used Merida. That totally makes sense, and I like the gender neutrality. Hercules is more of a call back to the original flexing man illustration, while Merida's movie is literally called Brave because she's brave, so both work. For her it'd be la valiente.

el gorrito - Basically, the little cap. Mine has Jiminy Cricket and his top hat (Pinocchio), while the other has Mickey in his sorcerer's hat. I'd choose the latter, as it's more iconic. 

la muerte - Death, in the form of a skeleton wielding a scythe. My version has the evil queen in hag form with the poison skull apple (Snow White), while the other version has Jack Skellington (The Nightmare Before Christmas). Both work quite well, but I'm leaning towards Jack as he's actually a skeleton.

la pera - the pear. My version left this one out, while the other appears to have photoshopped a picture of the pear into baby Moana's hand, presumably to be able to include her (she is adorable). I'd try to find a movie screenshot with a pear in it, rather than resorting to that.

la bandera - Mine has Lightning McQueen with the black and white checkered racing flags above him, while I can't tell if the other one included that card or not. La bandera is of course the Mexican flag, which is shown in The Three Caballeros and Coco, but the racing flags are a creative way to make this card politically neutral. I'm sure there are plain generic flags flown in medieval-set movies like Robin Hood.

el bandolón - This is a specific musical instrument used in mariachi bands, similar to a lute or guitar. There's a lot of mariachis in Coco; one of them must have a bandolón. This one was omitted from my version, while the other one just photoshopped a bandolón into a picture of Miguel (Coco).

el violoncello - I believe this is the old, full name for cello. Mine omitted it, while the other has a picture of Clara Cluck playing the cello. I know there's a few scenes in various movies with a group of musicians; one of them ought to be playing the cello. I'm pretty sure one of the musicians in the opening ball scene in the live action Beauty and the Beast is playing the violoncello. 

la garza - the heron, omitted from my version. The other version just photoshopped a heron next to the Queen of Hearts, as if she was using that instead of a flamingo for the croquet game. Lazy. Maybe we could cheat a bit and use any heron-looking bird, like a stork or one of those skinny birds that flies overhead during the circle of life in The Lion King

el pajaro - Here mine used the bird from A Bug's Life, while the other version used a picture of Maleficent with her raven on her shoulder (Sleeping Beauty). I prefer the former. "Bird" is very generic, so you can easily find examples in pretty much every movie. I'd personally use the birds in Cinderella or Snow White; they're more iconic. For a standalone bird, maybe Zazu from The Lion King.

la mano - My version used Mickey Mouse's hands, while the other used Wreck-It Ralph's enormous hand. Personally Mickey's gloved hands are more iconic; I would just use one á la the original.

la bota - The boot was omitted in mine, and I can't find it in the other. I'd use Gaston's boot(s), which we already get a closeup of during his invasion of Belle's home. Easy. Done.

la luna - My version uses the full moon behind Simba, Timon and Pumba doing their hakuna matata dance. It's lovely, but a crescent moon should be used. I cannot find the other version's moon. It would be cool if the crescent moon city from Treasure Planet were used. 

el cotorro - My version has Iago, Jafar's parrot (Aladdin). I can't find the other version's parrot card. I'm fine with Iago, but I'd love a parrot from The Tiki Room. Bonus Mexicanness: my grandpa worked on the Tiki Room. I guess we're sticking to animation though.

el borracho - My (misspelled) version has Hades as the drunkard, while Smee is rightfully put as the drunkard in the other version. Doesn't somebody get drunk in Pinocchio? That could be another option.

Obviously the el negrito card is racist so we're not discussing it, but I'm shocked the version I don't have chose to keep it in and put Dr. Facilier. That's messed up.

el corazon - My version put the Queen of Hearts with her heart lollipop-looking scepter, while the other version has the casket with stabbed heart lock/decoration that the evil queen is holding (Snow White). Both work, but I like the Queen of Hearts a bit more for this card. Doesn't one of the Disney Princess movies end with a heart around the couple's heads? I'd use that.

la sandia - Neither version included the watermelon. There's a fruit stand in Lilo & Stitch, probably with a shot of watermelons. I know a few characters have done Carmen Miranda reference costumes with fruit on their heads.

el tambor - Mine didn't include a drum card, and I can't find it in the other version. This one makes me mad, because there are so many musical numbers in Disney movies. Most of them show somebody playing a drum. There are so many options. Dopey plays the drum in Snow White.

el camarón - Omitted for mine, and unfindable for the other. The French tank-cleaning shrimp from Finding Nemo. They literally used Martin and Dory for el pescado and they didn't think about the shrimp? Another option is a seafood or "Under the Sea" scene from The Little Mermaid.

las jaras - The arrows. My version used Merida and her bow and arrows for this, while I can't tell for the other version. I personally would use the arrows from Robin Hood

el musico - My version uses Miguel from Coco, as he's a musician, while the other uses the dwarf band from Snow White. I love Miguel, of course.

la araña - Mine omitted this one, while I can't tell if the other version has it or not. I'd put the French? spider from James and the Giant Peach.

el soldado - Both versions put a green army man from Toy Story, and rightfully so.

la estrella - Mine omitted this one, while the other version rightfully used the Evangeline star that becomes the Blue Fairy (The Princess and the Frog, Pinocchio). I'm even angrier about this one than the omission of el tambor.

el cazo -  Mine also omitted this one. Just use literally any pot/caldron cooking soup or whatever. There must be so many. Try Ratatouille, as the other version did (it looks photoshopped though).

el mundo - the world. Omitted from mine, can't tell with the other. Just use any globe from any study. I'm pretty sure Merlin has one in The Sword in the Stone, Theo from Atlantis, etc. There's one in the camp the animals destroy in Tarzan.

el nopal - Omitted from my version, can't tell with the other. There must be a depiction of a nopal cactus in Coco or in The Three Caballeros or Saludos Amigos or somewhere. If not, change this one to el cactus and show one of the saguaro cacti from the Mexico part of T3C.

el alacrán - I cannot recall any Disney movie having a scorpion, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Mine of course doesn't have this one, while the other just photoshopped one in front of a scared bb Simba in The Lion King.

la rosa - both versions used the enchanted rose from Beauty and the Beast, and rightfully so. There's simply nothing better.

la calavera - skull. My version used Hector from Coco, while the other used the skull and crossbones from the Pirates of the Caribbean. If we're sticking to animation, the skull and crossbones from Hook's Jolly Roger flag (Peter Pan) should be used.

la campana - My version used one of the huge church bells from Hunchback of Notre Dame, while the other just... straight up photoshopped a bell into Quasimodo's hand. I mean. The screenshots are right there.

el cantarito - a (small) pitcher or jug. Mine of course omitted this, while the other one used a pic of Mowgli carrying a water jug on his head at the end of The Jungle Book. This works, but I'd personally use the pitcher the birds pour water on Cinderella with.

el venado - Both versions rightfully used Bambi the deer.

el sol - Mine ignored this one, while the other version... photoshopped the sun behind the skinny kid from Onward. Not sure why, when the sun from Tangled is RIGHT THERE.

la corona - My version used a picture of Sleeping Beauty getting crowned with her tiara, while the other version used Prince John and his oversized crown (Robin Hood). I'd definitely choose the latter, as it's actually part of the movie. Another option is Rapunzel's tiara since it's so important to her movie.

la chalupa - a chalupa is a small boat, like a canoe or rowboat. My version used the boat that Rapunzel and Eugene row on the lake? in, while the other used Moana's first smaller boat. I think this is wrong because that boat clearly has a mast and sail, while chalupas do not. The first boat is a vastly better option. I think the best option would be to use the rowboat that Ariel and Prince Eric almost kiss in during "Kiss the Girl" (The Little Mermaid). 

el pino - My version uses the pine trees behind Olaf in Frozen, while the other version uses Mickey and Minnie Mouse's Christmas tree. Both are fine. 

el pescado - Both versions used Martin and Dory from Finding Nemo. Another option is to use the goldfish from Pinocchio.

la palma - Both versions used nearly the exact same picture of Lilo and Stitch sitting in a hammock strung between two palm trees.

la maceta - the flowerpot. Mine omitted this, per usual. The other used baby Groot in his flowerpot. There are literally so many flowerpots in Disney films and shorts. I mean come on.

el harpa - Both versions used Duchess playing the harp in The AristoCats, which I approve of.

la rana - Both versions used the prince-frog from The Princess and the Frog, which, duh.

I'm irritated the seller left so many cards out. I paid almost $9 for an incomplete PDF, for pete's sake. It was difficult to see whether the other Disney loteria version had all the cards or not because their listing shows only like 3 playing cards and a handful of individual cards. The text is rather hard to read, as well. I may try to make my own versions of the missing cards, using the format of the set I bought. We'll see if my nonexistent photoshopping skills can do it.