please this made me laugh so hard, his vacant lil smile, like he's not really tracking what's specifically going on but he's happy to be here and support
One of the many reasons I love Team Rocket is their ambiguous queerness. As you said, you can project many queer head canons onto them. They don’t just represent one or two aspects of being queer, but many. I love them for that
Dude I genuinely LOVE how you weave together your crafting into analysis and storytelling. Especially all the creative ways you transition between the two. I know I've said it before but I'll keep saying it damnit!
You said this was supposed to be a vibe sesh, not an essay, and proceeded to give THE BEST analysis of Team Rocket I've ever seen on TH-cam! The way you deconstructed each backstory episode and ended with THE queer reading of Meowth - just wow! This was really, really good!! ✨ Happy to see that you fixed the sound and thank you one more time for the shout-out! 💜
The big thing for me growing up with Team Rocket is that it doesn't matter what gender you are, clothing can be made to fit you. The surprise around Team Rocket's costume reveals isn't that they were wearing clothes 'for the opposite gender' or 'over the top' it was that they were Jesse and James and Meowth. Clothing is just a way to look, that you can have fun with it even if its something you wouldn't wear everyday. Also I am big feeling the 'telling a fun story from your childhood only to realize you grew up in a very different tax bracket than your friends'
Thank you so much for reminding me about Madeleine Blaustein. The fact she voiced Meowth is something I've learned and forgotten multiple times, and it's always such a delight when I relearn it
It looks really cool! Also, tbh I've always thought of them as bi4bi, maybe cause irl it feels like kind of a cliche that bi4bi couples are the fem girl dating the gnc guy (who often ends up not being a guy at all)
i swear your videos are some of my absolute favorites on this entire platform without hyperbole. they always get me emotionally and/or speak to something deep within me. hoping to sub to your patreon soon, thank you for sharing your progress on projects with us in such amazing ways!! i don't think i really know how to express succinctly just how much i connect to this video with looking back on team rocket as queer icons of my youth, they absolutely played a part in me being me and the young queer joy i experienced which was (and i'm certian still is) difficult to come by. i remember being a teen coming into my queer identity rewatching the show, both being full of nostalgia and experiencing almost a queer euphoria in seeing these characters from my youth freely and joyously express themselves while still being comedic without the underlying queerness necessarily being the butt of the joke. i'm a certified yapper, so i'll stop here. thank you lizard for sharing your art with us!!
I built my first costume (not the first one I've worn, but the first I made completely myself) this year in August, and you've really been a big inspiration for me to make more and try to do bigger things. Coming from someone who feels so behind in their skills in this hobby since I'm just starting out, it is really awesome to see you do something that you don't feel confident in and to really succeed at it! I loved to see you learn and really figure things out, and it really makes me feel more confident to just keep trying things out myself!
devastated to lose all those comments BUT WE'RE BACK !!!!!! had to manually screenrecord and resync every individual clip in the timeline to fix the stereo/mono problem but I think we're back in business
@HeyLizardLeigh That's intense! You did all that really fast! I am glad to get to enjoy the full video now, though. It was like a special little Easter egg treat just for the early ones, and we will treasure the comments in our hearts. Thank you for putting in so much effort to fix it and to create quality videos in the first place. They're all really well made, engaging and generally a lot of fun. They somehow hold the attention of my short attention span Audhd brain. Thanks again
Ahhh what an absolutely amazing video!! The staff turned out gorgeous, and I genuinely had no idea Meowth's VA was a trans woman, so I'm incredibly glad to have learned that at last! I will def be doing some further research, can't believe I never knew :0 Meowth and Jesse's experiences both resonate with me. I'm both agender and a femme lesbian, and it's hard to balance my preferred gender expression (extremely feminine) with my preferred labels (they/them and neutral as possible). I like skirts and pink and cutesy toys and all the fun girly stuff, but I'm *not* a girl and I never will be, and so many people struggle to understand that. And, as an autistic therian, I also often find myself in the same limbo Meowth ends up in, between "too human" and "not human enough". I feel far more comfortable with animals than humans, but I'm stuck in a human body with human mannerisms and senses, and I'll never be quite animal enough to be considered one of them. And simultaneously my behavior is off-putting to humans as well; they find me animalistic and strange, something close to uncanny valley, or unreadable because my body language isn't human enough, doesn't follow the same arbitrary rules. Even when I force myself to study the social rules and make eye contact and fit in, I'm still not accepted. And if I do the same for animals, it doesn't change the fact that I'm physically still human. So many trans allegories take the form of animals and their relationship with their species or humanity, and a huge majority of otherkin folks are also transgender. Our experiences aren't as different as a lot of people think. Transgender and transspecies often go hand in hand, and it makes me really happy every time I see it somewhere new ^^ Anyways sorry for rambling lol. This cosplay is coming along beautifully, I can't wait to see what the next step will be
truly i was trying to come up with a more 'normal' joke to put in there but honestly my brain kept coming back to the Giant Lion Turtle and eventually I realized I just needed to honor that LMAO
babes your video essays ARE the Bluey for adults I didnt know I needed wholesome, interesting, educational Gut Punch of overwhelming emotion that leaves me crying Stop being so iconic please, I am neither a cosplayer nor a pokemon watcher So how I ended up here over the last few months is a gift from the internet to me
These videos have such amazing storytelling, not hard to follow while also being complex. They also are so comforting even though I have never seen or played Pokémon
It's hard to comment limited by the language barrier, but firstly I love the way you edit or write your videos (idk a better word to say it), like how you interweave the process of your cosplays and the theme of the video, something in my little queer heart felt the sweetness and affection of your analysis, especially the part about Meowth 🥺✨
My headcanons include: James: Not neurotypical AroAce (maybe just ace?) Very possibly not cis, however i think he could just be a very fem man (idk i dont do the gender thing) Jessie: Not straight, bi maybe? Or just into femboys (If anyone in team rocket is neurotypical its probably her, but im not sure if any of them are) Meowth: Neurodivergent in some way, shape, or form
@@slug_whitesnake We aces claim James as our asexual/ non-binary (possibly aro-ace or homo-romantic ace) Queen. *cough cough* Now I know why little queer me was obsessed with Team Rocket (particularly James) when I was younger.
My newly diagnosed ass absolutely sees Meowth as Autistic. I mean, he literally gets along with two people and learned to speak Human. Humans are his special interest.
i watched this as i finished up my own next BIG project, so thank you for keeping me company and for the genuinely touching flashbacks to my own childhood. the high school lunchroom cosplay skit put such a huge smile on my face. pikachu was my first ever cosplay ~
First of all I can't believe this is the first I'm seeing of your channel. You should be way more popular. This video is a fantastic reading of Team Rocket and a great demonstration of your crafting abilities. Second, it's really bittersweet that this video came out pretty soon after Rachael Lillis passed away because now Eric Stuart is the last living Team Rocket member. Rest well, Maddie and Rachael.
meowth being doomed by the narrative was not something i was expecting. LIZARD CONTINUES TO WIN!!!!! EVEN IN SPITE OF AUDIO ISSUES! what a lovely video and deep dive and also what a sick staff!!!! the LEDs give so much life to it
the best part about jessie and james is that you can interpret their queerness in so many ways, i’ve seen a lot of different headcanons that i find equally plausible, and that fluidity allows all of us to project onto them. you could see them as a duo of lesbian/gay solidarity, with james being a feminine gay man and jessie being a masculine lesbian. you could see them as a bi4bi power couple. you could see them as a t4t couple, with james being transfem and jessie being transmasc, or vice versa. you could see them both as genderfluid or bigender. i’ve heard all of these headcanons, and every single one made me think ‘yeah, i could see that’. i think it’s so much more fun to explore all kinds of interpretations, rather than trying to stick them into a particular box, but that’s just me!
The little baby Lizard skit is the cutest thing on this channel hands down! Also, the staff turned out amazing!! The vines pull the whole thing together, and I love the paint job!
Caught the new video after it had been re-uploaded, and as usual it was incredible! I learned so much about Pokemon, and crafting, and got the chance to feel like I was crafting in company (working on knitting a shawl here), which is always my favorite part of watching your vids
Seeing you crafting on your roof gives me so much joy, as i too do not have a fancy workshop but spend hours crouching on my tiny ass balcony. Also props to Justin!
This video got me choked up... Wonderfully written and presented analysis. When I first watched "Go West Young Meowth" as a kid, back in '98, Meowth was catapulted to favorite character status and, when all's said and done, that hasn't changed. The queer narrative he offers - along with the rest of the Team Rocket trio - is part of that staying power, I gotta say. The word "comforting" is applied a lot in this video when it comes to Team Rocket, particularly when it comes to looking back at them, and... Yeah. I could not agree more.
"never forget what Rick Berman took from us" yessss the Garshir rep is real. Even the actors are like "yah we were totally up for that romance, and support fanworks of it now". Although not even Mr. No Fun could take away Garek's camp, it's too powerful.
wooooo, Cecilily mention in a Lizard video!! I came across her videos a few weeks ago, and I LOVE her essays. I love these breakdowns, especially when it comes to the queer presentations of Jessie and James. James was such a dear character to me when I first watched the anime with Diamond and Pearl, and he’s remained near and dear to my heart as I’ve grown up and explored my identity as a queer nonbinary transmasc. This video makes me want to go back, watch the anime, and make a James cosplay. AMAZING work on the staff btw!! I can’t help but admire the delicate branch details :] Edit: ohhhhhh the last section about Meowth,,,, I don’t have many words for it, but man did that cut deep to my core. It was also lovely to see the note about her active modding efforts in the second life community. it’s the little things that can get you, you know?
amazing video! you and your friend's impressions and acting were amazing, so cool to see you both still doing what you love so many years later the finished prop (and the rest of the witch costume) look incredible!!
i stopped cosplaying after college because college really killed my creative drive and self confidence in crafting, but getting into your channel has me itching to whip something up again. if you can do it in a cramped nyc apartment then maybe i can too!
To be real, I'm not a pokemon fan but I ADORE this series. That analysis was phenomenal and I will always listen to Lizard tell stories. Also, here for the DS9 references (if i ever see Rick Berman it's on SIGHT)
First off: staff looks AMAZING oh my god! As a propmaker more than a sewist I am so proud of you for tackling this! It turned out gorgeous! Second: the analysis of Team Rocket was something I was so excited to hear you talk about and you did not disappoint! Thank you for putting a lot of the things I felt into words about our favorite Royals of gay audacity
THAT STAFF IS AMAZINGGGGG. holy shit, it looks great at the end but that white and black really had a solid vibe to it as well. So freaking well done, and of course amazing video as well. One day I will not cry during one of your videos.. but today is not that day
i have never considered the queer reading of meowth that you have presented in this video, but i have to say it has changed how i think about the character forever !!! every single point was so spot on and was so clearly articulated. my need to cosplay team rocket just to be silly for a day has increased exponentially because of you!!
I was like oh a lighthearted and fun video to get ready to in the morning, fast forward to me crying to Meowths backstory thank you for this video, for this emotional depth
Another great video! I really really enjoy your style of presentation and editing, Lizard! I keep catching myself re-watching your videos when I need a kind voice to listen to while I get tasks around the house done. Your work is such a fun part of my day when I use it and I appreciate you
I was not expecting to cry over Meowth today, but you really got me here. James was fully part of my queer/trans awakening (along with Ryan from HSM) and seeing this al laid out so beautifully was incredible.
A video that combines so many of my favorite things! Cosplay, the color purple, cats, deep dives and video essays, QUEER MEDIA ANALYSIS!!! Love love love, and HOLY SHIT the “my friend Justin” reveal legit made me do a double take at my screen.
Been following you for years on other platforms but recently found your youtube channel. I so enjoy how you blend your cosplay creation process with captivating analysis. Thank you for bringing such wonderful things into the world! 💕
First, the second hand cringe and joy I experienced while watching the skit was transcendental. I have loved watching you develop your skills over the years and your queer audacity is truly inspirational. The deep dive on the queer joy that is team rocket made my night. Thank you for this wonderful video and fantastic format that you have developed!
I LITERALLY WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR SO LONG IF IT WAS TOO CRINGE TO INCLUDE LMAO but ultimately I was like, it's the sacred duty of every 16 year old to be cringe-in-retrospect like that's actually the best case scenario hahaha. thanks for watching!!
This staff turned out so coooool and your passion is so uplifting. Pulling together all these queer references warms my heart and then broke it into pieces over Meowth. Thank you
I love your videos! I have to mostly listen to your Pokemon content, rather than watch it (for reasons), but I'm still going to play through every single one. Your talent and passion are contagious, and I hope you know how much you inspire so many of us! 💜
Team Rocket are the true protaganists. But if you're only looking at the Indigo League you miss out on the singular masterpiece that is the Flaming Moltres (Actual name: The Fortune Hunters) episode, in which Jesse, regarding the question as to where James got his skin-tight Moltres costume, responds "I think that costume came right out of his closet".
As a gay trans masc Jessie and James caused me so much queer panic as a child. Jessie is an icon and James was one my first childhood fictional crushes
What a fabulous job on the staff 😘👌 love all the texture you got in there. A wonderful hang out chatting about our favourite baddies✨ I've always loved how they can lift each other up, top tier moments is when they hype up downhearted Pokémon. Get you a hype team like team rocket 🎉🎉
i really wasnt expecting to leave this video crying.... i didnt grow up with the pokemon anime and have never watched it so meowths backstory hit me like a ton of bricks. the trans allegory is so palpable. i really feel so incredibly seen as a nonbinary person who feels stuck as an outlier to a this or that choice. the staff looks really beautiful, it turned out incredible!!!! looking forward to the next installment of this series!
You got me, Lizard - I seriously thought you were gonna skip Meowth and do him and the other Team Rocket Pokémon in another video. So glad you included him here!
Im so glad it came out so well! You inspired me to pick up sewing again with a bit more ambitious of a project than I probably should have and your Pokémon videos helped me power through when I lost steam. I even learned hand basting to get the zipper in. Thank you so much for the videos and I can't wait to partake in my next project with you :)
When I heard Justin in that video you shared I couldn't help but think "wow, he sounds almost exactly like James." Imagine my surprise at the end, good for him. These are always so fun! The crafting progress for these outfits and the stories / inspirations relating to them is just a joy to listen to and watch. The passion is really evident and highly enjoyable.
I needed this today. I've been going through a rough few days, dysphoria wise. And I also just really adore team rocket. They weren't technically my first queer-coded villains (thanks Disney lol), but they are certainly my favorites
Tip for cutting PVC pipe: invest in a pipe cutter tool. They should be right next to where you find PVC at the hardware store, they're like 20$ and they look like fat hedge clippers. THEEEE most satisfying sensation when in use, it's like cutting butter and makes snipping pipe as easy as scissors.
The first 500 people to use my link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare! skl.sh/lizardleigh09241
I've been looking for a skillshare link! I was lucky enough to catch this when there was still an audio issue at the beginning, it was a great video
@@treason6661 thanks for coming back!!
@@HeyLizardLeigh gotta pump up that algorithm by commenting and watching to the last minute
Love the earss
Love the ears
Koffing is Ally Coded because he's just this guy but only turns up when he's asked to participate and he's always happy to contribute.
I cannot unsee this now thank you for this gift
He's your stoner Ally, who is happy to smoke up when y'all ask him to. What a cool dude.
please this made me laugh so hard, his vacant lil smile, like he's not really tracking what's specifically going on but he's happy to be here and support
One of the many reasons I love Team Rocket is their ambiguous queerness. As you said, you can project many queer head canons onto them. They don’t just represent one or two aspects of being queer, but many. I love them for that
Yes!! I totally agree I see so many different headcanons abt them and they all seem to fit!
Dude I genuinely LOVE how you weave together your crafting into analysis and storytelling. Especially all the creative ways you transition between the two. I know I've said it before but I'll keep saying it damnit!
getting comments from you always GENUINELY brightens my day :') I'm so so so SO glad you enjoyed this one!!!
I love finding the algorithms connection in the comments. Thanks to both of you ❤🎉
You said this was supposed to be a vibe sesh, not an essay, and proceeded to give THE BEST analysis of Team Rocket I've ever seen on TH-cam! The way you deconstructed each backstory episode and ended with THE queer reading of Meowth - just wow! This was really, really good!! ✨
Happy to see that you fixed the sound and thank you one more time for the shout-out! 💜
of COURSE, I loved your video and your whole channel!!💜
The big thing for me growing up with Team Rocket is that it doesn't matter what gender you are, clothing can be made to fit you. The surprise around Team Rocket's costume reveals isn't that they were wearing clothes 'for the opposite gender' or 'over the top' it was that they were Jesse and James and Meowth. Clothing is just a way to look, that you can have fun with it even if its something you wouldn't wear everyday.
Also I am big feeling the 'telling a fun story from your childhood only to realize you grew up in a very different tax bracket than your friends'
Oh my gosh that plot twist with Justin at the end had my JAW dropping. That is so cool!!!!
sometimes the universe is so wildly small and two nerds end up both having nerd-adjacent jobs LOL
Thank you so much for reminding me about Madeleine Blaustein. The fact she voiced Meowth is something I've learned and forgotten multiple times, and it's always such a delight when I relearn it
You did _not_ just call the Team Rocket uniform "dripless". Take it back *NOW.*
I CRIED 😭
I cosplay a Rocket Grunt multiple times a year!
It looks really cool! Also, tbh I've always thought of them as bi4bi, maybe cause irl it feels like kind of a cliche that bi4bi couples are the fem girl dating the gnc guy (who often ends up not being a guy at all)
combining video essays with crafting videos is such a genius move and i'm obsessed with your content
Me: I wonder if lizard Leigh has posted anything new
LL, 3 minutes prior: making my dreams come true
I am a simple person, I see Lizard Leigh posted, I click
i swear your videos are some of my absolute favorites on this entire platform without hyperbole. they always get me emotionally and/or speak to something deep within me. hoping to sub to your patreon soon, thank you for sharing your progress on projects with us in such amazing ways!! i don't think i really know how to express succinctly just how much i connect to this video with looking back on team rocket as queer icons of my youth, they absolutely played a part in me being me and the young queer joy i experienced which was (and i'm certian still is) difficult to come by. i remember being a teen coming into my queer identity rewatching the show, both being full of nostalgia and experiencing almost a queer euphoria in seeing these characters from my youth freely and joyously express themselves while still being comedic without the underlying queerness necessarily being the butt of the joke. i'm a certified yapper, so i'll stop here. thank you lizard for sharing your art with us!!
okay but like??? that skit killed? I was multitasking and the way my head snapped over at the voices. A+ to high school y'all
the way we worked so hard on those voices LMAO
Commenting and rewatching to help with the algorithm. Love your content!
I built my first costume (not the first one I've worn, but the first I made completely myself) this year in August, and you've really been a big inspiration for me to make more and try to do bigger things. Coming from someone who feels so behind in their skills in this hobby since I'm just starting out, it is really awesome to see you do something that you don't feel confident in and to really succeed at it! I loved to see you learn and really figure things out, and it really makes me feel more confident to just keep trying things out myself!
it's back! hooray!
devastated to lose all those comments BUT WE'RE BACK !!!!!! had to manually screenrecord and resync every individual clip in the timeline to fix the stereo/mono problem but I think we're back in business
i was watching pokemon just yesterday by complete accident and this is right up my alley, so i've been excited to watch this!
@HeyLizardLeigh That's intense! You did all that really fast! I am glad to get to enjoy the full video now, though. It was like a special little Easter egg treat just for the early ones, and we will treasure the comments in our hearts. Thank you for putting in so much effort to fix it and to create quality videos in the first place. They're all really well made, engaging and generally a lot of fun. They somehow hold the attention of my short attention span Audhd brain. Thanks again
just finished it, it was REALLY REALLY good
Ahhh what an absolutely amazing video!! The staff turned out gorgeous, and I genuinely had no idea Meowth's VA was a trans woman, so I'm incredibly glad to have learned that at last! I will def be doing some further research, can't believe I never knew :0
Meowth and Jesse's experiences both resonate with me. I'm both agender and a femme lesbian, and it's hard to balance my preferred gender expression (extremely feminine) with my preferred labels (they/them and neutral as possible). I like skirts and pink and cutesy toys and all the fun girly stuff, but I'm *not* a girl and I never will be, and so many people struggle to understand that.
And, as an autistic therian, I also often find myself in the same limbo Meowth ends up in, between "too human" and "not human enough". I feel far more comfortable with animals than humans, but I'm stuck in a human body with human mannerisms and senses, and I'll never be quite animal enough to be considered one of them. And simultaneously my behavior is off-putting to humans as well; they find me animalistic and strange, something close to uncanny valley, or unreadable because my body language isn't human enough, doesn't follow the same arbitrary rules. Even when I force myself to study the social rules and make eye contact and fit in, I'm still not accepted. And if I do the same for animals, it doesn't change the fact that I'm physically still human.
So many trans allegories take the form of animals and their relationship with their species or humanity, and a huge majority of otherkin folks are also transgender. Our experiences aren't as different as a lot of people think. Transgender and transspecies often go hand in hand, and it makes me really happy every time I see it somewhere new ^^
Anyways sorry for rambling lol. This cosplay is coming along beautifully, I can't wait to see what the next step will be
4:05 Every flowchart ever should end with the Giant Lion Turtle quote lol
truly i was trying to come up with a more 'normal' joke to put in there but honestly my brain kept coming back to the Giant Lion Turtle and eventually I realized I just needed to honor that LMAO
babes your video essays ARE the Bluey for adults I didnt know I needed
wholesome, interesting, educational
Gut Punch of overwhelming emotion that leaves me crying
Stop being so iconic please, I am neither a cosplayer nor a pokemon watcher
So how I ended up here over the last few months is a gift from the internet to me
my queer 30 year old heart learning about the takarazuka revue for the first time and going on an all night bingeathon THANK YOU
THEY ARE THE BESTTTT
These videos have such amazing storytelling, not hard to follow while also being complex. They also are so comforting even though I have never seen or played Pokémon
As a trans woman, this video hit so much harder than I expected it to
It's hard to comment limited by the language barrier, but firstly I love the way you edit or write your videos (idk a better word to say it), like how you interweave the process of your cosplays and the theme of the video, something in my little queer heart felt the sweetness and affection of your analysis, especially the part about Meowth 🥺✨
My headcanons include:
James:
Not neurotypical
AroAce (maybe just ace?)
Very possibly not cis, however i think he could just be a very fem man (idk i dont do the gender thing)
Jessie:
Not straight, bi maybe? Or just into femboys
(If anyone in team rocket is neurotypical its probably her, but im not sure if any of them are)
Meowth:
Neurodivergent in some way, shape, or form
omg aroace james! he just like me!
@@slug_whitesnake We aces claim James as our asexual/ non-binary (possibly aro-ace or homo-romantic ace) Queen. *cough cough* Now I know why little queer me was obsessed with Team Rocket (particularly James) when I was younger.
What does neurodivergent mean?
@rhondahoward8025 some examples of someone being Neurodivergent would be if they had add, adhd, or if they are autistic
My newly diagnosed ass absolutely sees Meowth as Autistic. I mean, he literally gets along with two people and learned to speak Human. Humans are his special interest.
Team rocket is so unironically slay
Oh lord that meowth part made me emotional 😭
i watched this as i finished up my own next BIG project, so thank you for keeping me company and for the genuinely touching flashbacks to my own childhood.
the high school lunchroom cosplay skit put such a huge smile on my face. pikachu was my first ever cosplay ~
pokemon was the gateway and the MOMENT!!!! this makes me so glad, I'm always so happy to see you in here friend :')
Making me cry here. This was a masterpiece of queer joy.
lizard- how are you gonna make me cry about cartoons i haven't seen AGAIN....
accidentally creating the niche of 'this cartoon made me feel feelings and now i'm making it EVERYONE's problem'
First of all I can't believe this is the first I'm seeing of your channel. You should be way more popular. This video is a fantastic reading of Team Rocket and a great demonstration of your crafting abilities. Second, it's really bittersweet that this video came out pretty soon after Rachael Lillis passed away because now Eric Stuart is the last living Team Rocket member. Rest well, Maddie and Rachael.
okay, but can i just mention how ON POINT yours and your ‘james’’ voices were?? actually surprised me they were so accurate!
I loved Team Rocket. I still say "Jesse. James."
meowth being doomed by the narrative was not something i was expecting.
LIZARD CONTINUES TO WIN!!!!! EVEN IN SPITE OF AUDIO ISSUES!
what a lovely video and deep dive and also what a sick staff!!!! the LEDs give so much life to it
the best part about jessie and james is that you can interpret their queerness in so many ways, i’ve seen a lot of different headcanons that i find equally plausible, and that fluidity allows all of us to project onto them. you could see them as a duo of lesbian/gay solidarity, with james being a feminine gay man and jessie being a masculine lesbian. you could see them as a bi4bi power couple. you could see them as a t4t couple, with james being transfem and jessie being transmasc, or vice versa. you could see them both as genderfluid or bigender. i’ve heard all of these headcanons, and every single one made me think ‘yeah, i could see that’. i think it’s so much more fun to explore all kinds of interpretations, rather than trying to stick them into a particular box, but that’s just me!
I’m obsessed with this series. Your content is so soothing to me, thanking you for making these long form videos.
The skit you did looks so fun, the voices are actually so good!!!
Sobbing because of the Meowth retrospective, gdi Leigh
8:47 I too hate when my bottom falls out 😂
33:57 from now on I am 100% filling in gender fields with “Villain” lol
The little baby Lizard skit is the cutest thing on this channel hands down! Also, the staff turned out amazing!! The vines pull the whole thing together, and I love the paint job!
The staff looks amazing! You did a fantastic job with it!
And I honestly live for your video essays and analyses.
Caught the new video after it had been re-uploaded, and as usual it was incredible! I learned so much about Pokemon, and crafting, and got the chance to feel like I was crafting in company (working on knitting a shawl here), which is always my favorite part of watching your vids
Seeing you crafting on your roof gives me so much joy, as i too do not have a fancy workshop but spend hours crouching on my tiny ass balcony. Also props to Justin!
This video got me choked up... Wonderfully written and presented analysis. When I first watched "Go West Young Meowth" as a kid, back in '98, Meowth was catapulted to favorite character status and, when all's said and done, that hasn't changed. The queer narrative he offers - along with the rest of the Team Rocket trio - is part of that staying power, I gotta say. The word "comforting" is applied a lot in this video when it comes to Team Rocket, particularly when it comes to looking back at them, and... Yeah. I could not agree more.
R.I.P Rachel Lillis
"never forget what Rick Berman took from us" yessss the Garshir rep is real. Even the actors are like "yah we were totally up for that romance, and support fanworks of it now". Although not even Mr. No Fun could take away Garek's camp, it's too powerful.
wooooo, Cecilily mention in a Lizard video!! I came across her videos a few weeks ago, and I LOVE her essays.
I love these breakdowns, especially when it comes to the queer presentations of Jessie and James. James was such a dear character to me when I first watched the anime with Diamond and Pearl, and he’s remained near and dear to my heart as I’ve grown up and explored my identity as a queer nonbinary transmasc. This video makes me want to go back, watch the anime, and make a James cosplay.
AMAZING work on the staff btw!! I can’t help but admire the delicate branch details :]
Edit: ohhhhhh the last section about Meowth,,,, I don’t have many words for it, but man did that cut deep to my core. It was also lovely to see the note about her active modding efforts in the second life community. it’s the little things that can get you, you know?
amazing video! you and your friend's impressions and acting were amazing, so cool to see you both still doing what you love so many years later
the finished prop (and the rest of the witch costume) look incredible!!
i stopped cosplaying after college because college really killed my creative drive and self confidence in crafting, but getting into your channel has me itching to whip something up again. if you can do it in a cramped nyc apartment then maybe i can too!
I love team rocket their voicelines are so funny and iconic.
Youre so cool btw love your videos
To be real, I'm not a pokemon fan but I ADORE this series. That analysis was phenomenal and I will always listen to Lizard tell stories. Also, here for the DS9 references (if i ever see Rick Berman it's on SIGHT)
all my homies hate rick berman, thank god for all the non- rick berman people who worked on ds9 !!
Ah! Spotted a certain potion bottle in your Meowth backdrop 😊
Another great video!
YES it was immediately incorporating into the room ecosystem haha! 💜
Its so cool that your friend became THE voice of James! also great video, and amazing prop!
First off: staff looks AMAZING oh my god! As a propmaker more than a sewist I am so proud of you for tackling this! It turned out gorgeous!
Second: the analysis of Team Rocket was something I was so excited to hear you talk about and you did not disappoint! Thank you for putting a lot of the things I felt into words about our favorite Royals of gay audacity
THAT STAFF IS AMAZINGGGGG. holy shit, it looks great at the end but that white and black really had a solid vibe to it as well. So freaking well done, and of course amazing video as well. One day I will not cry during one of your videos.. but today is not that day
QUICK! BABE! The new Lizard Leigh video just dropped, get your crafting project!
i have never considered the queer reading of meowth that you have presented in this video, but i have to say it has changed how i think about the character forever !!! every single point was so spot on and was so clearly articulated. my need to cosplay team rocket just to be silly for a day has increased exponentially because of you!!
I was like oh a lighthearted and fun video to get ready to in the morning, fast forward to me crying to Meowths backstory thank you for this video, for this emotional depth
Another great video! I really really enjoy your style of presentation and editing, Lizard! I keep catching myself re-watching your videos when I need a kind voice to listen to while I get tasks around the house done. Your work is such a fun part of my day when I use it and I appreciate you
It's so interesting how you look at these characters based on your life experiences and all those points of view give me life 💓
Must comment and watch and like and support because YES! THIS IS THE CONTENT WE WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!
❤ Much love, lizard. Look after yourself
This video was so fun to watch! And the reveal at the end about who your best friend is at the end blew me away!
I was not expecting to cry over Meowth today, but you really got me here. James was fully part of my queer/trans awakening (along with Ryan from HSM) and seeing this al laid out so beautifully was incredible.
I really enjoy this format. You're doing deep dives in a process of making stuff and in a beloved media is just amazing
It never ceases to amaze me just how great of a storyteller lizard is
There's something about the way that you do your video embeds that gives Zenon/retrofuturism vibes. I like it 🥰
A video that combines so many of my favorite things! Cosplay, the color purple, cats, deep dives and video essays, QUEER MEDIA ANALYSIS!!! Love love love, and HOLY SHIT the “my friend Justin” reveal legit made me do a double take at my screen.
Been following you for years on other platforms but recently found your youtube channel. I so enjoy how you blend your cosplay creation process with captivating analysis. Thank you for bringing such wonderful things into the world! 💕
The thing you said about the factory default really resonated with me.
Thank you for everything you do
Well, I was not expecting to sit here and cry…
If you ever work with a lot of PVC, get a PVC pipe cutter. Cheap, easy, clean, and fast
As someone who doesn't have any ties to Pokemon at all this is amazing
First, the second hand cringe and joy I experienced while watching the skit was transcendental. I have loved watching you develop your skills over the years and your queer audacity is truly inspirational. The deep dive on the queer joy that is team rocket made my night. Thank you for this wonderful video and fantastic format that you have developed!
I LITERALLY WENT BACK AND FORTH FOR SO LONG IF IT WAS TOO CRINGE TO INCLUDE LMAO but ultimately I was like, it's the sacred duty of every 16 year old to be cringe-in-retrospect like that's actually the best case scenario hahaha. thanks for watching!!
This staff turned out so coooool and your passion is so uplifting. Pulling together all these queer references warms my heart and then broke it into pieces over Meowth. Thank you
I love your videos! I have to mostly listen to your Pokemon content, rather than watch it (for reasons), but I'm still going to play through every single one. Your talent and passion are contagious, and I hope you know how much you inspire so many of us! 💜
Woohoo!!! Im glad it’s all working I’m so sorry about the audio troubles TH-cam put you through!
Team Rocket are the true protaganists. But if you're only looking at the Indigo League you miss out on the singular masterpiece that is the Flaming Moltres (Actual name: The Fortune Hunters) episode, in which Jesse, regarding the question as to where James got his skin-tight Moltres costume, responds "I think that costume came right out of his closet".
goated video. Thanks for teaching me about meowths voice actor i didnt know!!! thats so heccing cool
I knew this part would be my favorite of this cosplay essay series! I will never shut up about Maddie whenever Meowth from Team Rocket is brought up
This was so beautiful. Your videos are as beautifully compiled as your cosplays!!! Thank you for being so awesome 😁
As a gay trans masc Jessie and James caused me so much queer panic as a child. Jessie is an icon and James was one my first childhood fictional crushes
Came for the Queer Theory, stayed for the cosplay tips. Both were excellent!
team rocket team rocket!!! I love them, they're everything!!! GOD they're so fun-
im happy to hear you talk about some of my favorite little guys!
Thank you for sharing this. It touched my heart to witness this. 🥰
Back to the new version to re-thank you for the skirt inspo for my suit I’m working on, and of course for the algorithm
What a fabulous job on the staff 😘👌 love all the texture you got in there. A wonderful hang out chatting about our favourite baddies✨ I've always loved how they can lift each other up, top tier moments is when they hype up downhearted Pokémon. Get you a hype team like team rocket 🎉🎉
Thank you for this video! your editing style is so inspiring and now I want to draw the OG team rocket. (Why am I crying ?)
i really wasnt expecting to leave this video crying.... i didnt grow up with the pokemon anime and have never watched it so meowths backstory hit me like a ton of bricks. the trans allegory is so palpable. i really feel so incredibly seen as a nonbinary person who feels stuck as an outlier to a this or that choice.
the staff looks really beautiful, it turned out incredible!!!! looking forward to the next installment of this series!
I'm home sick from work today and ended up crying through the Meowth bit ❤. Off to read everything i can about maddie
You got me, Lizard - I seriously thought you were gonna skip Meowth and do him and the other Team Rocket Pokémon in another video. So glad you included him here!
Always love your videos! Your staff turned out so beautiful ! Super well done !! Looking forward to the next video in this series !
Im so glad it came out so well! You inspired me to pick up sewing again with a bit more ambitious of a project than I probably should have and your Pokémon videos helped me power through when I lost steam. I even learned hand basting to get the zipper in. Thank you so much for the videos and I can't wait to partake in my next project with you :)
i CANNOT WAIT to see how you made all the belt accessories, especially the chatelaine.
When I heard Justin in that video you shared I couldn't help but think "wow, he sounds almost exactly like James." Imagine my surprise at the end, good for him.
These are always so fun! The crafting progress for these outfits and the stories / inspirations relating to them is just a joy to listen to and watch. The passion is really evident and highly enjoyable.
I needed this today. I've been going through a rough few days, dysphoria wise. And I also just really adore team rocket. They weren't technically my first queer-coded villains (thanks Disney lol), but they are certainly my favorites
This video is a victory for queer audacity!
Tip for cutting PVC pipe: invest in a pipe cutter tool. They should be right next to where you find PVC at the hardware store, they're like 20$ and they look like fat hedge clippers. THEEEE most satisfying sensation when in use, it's like cutting butter and makes snipping pipe as easy as scissors.
oh my god I am getting one of these IMMEDIATELY
I am living for this series!
Lizard, why did you make me cry today/pos