Pranas T. Naujokaitis

I’m in need of a movie montage of me finally getting my shit together…

Saw Wicked a second time. It’s been a while since I’ve been moved to see a movie a second time in theaters.

Comic Panel 1: Max and I are back on Smuggler’s Run, holding up our pilot tickets. We are excited. Caption: We take one final run on the Falcon before we have to catch our planes. Pranas: Sweet! We got pilot again! Cast member (off panel): Now boarding the blue group! Panel 2: We stand in line with a mom and her three kids behind us. She’s struggling to hold her toddler while the other two are pleading with her. She’s at the end of her rope. Boy: Aww, why can’t WE be pilots? Girl: Yeah!

Comic Panel 1: Max and I turn to face the kids. I give a wink and finger gun. The two kids are so excited. Pranas: Say… I heard you two are hotshot pilots. Wanna take our spots? Boy and girl: YEEAAAH! Mom (whispering): Thank you! Panel 2: We all load into the cockpit. The two kids in the pilots seats, so excited. Smiling, Max and I take our seats in the back. Caption: THIS is what Star Wars is all about. It’s for kids, and those young at heart. Girl: Look! I’m Chewbacca! Boy: This is so cool!

Comic Panel 1: The ride starts. I push a button on n the wall. Caption: And now… we get to LIVE inside of it! Pranas: I’ve got a GOOD feeling about this… Panel 2: The kids are pretty bad at this, immediately crashing the ship. Lights inside the cockpit go crazy and huge explosions outside. We all have worried looks. SFX: CRASH! Pranas: Uh oh… Hondo (on the speaker): What are you doing to my ship?!

Rise of the Resistance 5/5

Comic Panel 1: Out of breath I hold up my Magic Band as the cast member scans it. Caption: I RUN back to the ride as fast as I can. Pranas: Phew! Made it! Cast member: Bright suns! Enjoy your mission! Panel 2: I walk through the front entrance archway to the ride line, giddy.

Comic Panel 1: I excitedly take photos while in line. Everyone around me is doing the same. We are all smiles. Pranas: Oh wow! Panel 2: Group of images from the queue. The Rey hologram. BB-8, Nien Numb, and Lt. Bek. The Resistance transport. The First Order hanger filled with Stormtroopers. Caption: I don’t want to spoil too much, but here are some highlights from JUST the queue… Holograms! The ship! Even more animatronics! The huge hanger scene!

Comic Panel 1: I sit in the actual ride vehicle, giddy. A cast member does the seat belt check. Caption: It’s like fifteen minutes before we even board the actual ride vehicle! Cast member: Can everyone tug on their yellow straps? Panel 2: Our vehicle zips along the ride, with a general overview of what you see on the ride. General Hux, Stormtroopers, Kylo Ren, probe droids, an AT-AT, and two Finn animatronics. Pranas: WEEEEEE!

Comic Panel 1: Max and I are in Batuu. He has a cup of green milk, I a cup of blue milk. I am still in awe, just staring blankly ahead. Caption: I meet up with Max and cool off with some blue milk, processing what I just experienced. Max: So… what’cha think? Panel 2: I start drinking my blue milk. SFX: Glug glug glug Pranas: Those crazy Imagineers did it! It’s not just a ride… It’s a whole EXPERIENCE!

Rise of the Resistance 4/5

Comic Panel 1: It’s the next day, I’m in the backseat of a car nervously refreshing my phone. Caption: Morning of the ride opening, I hop in a Lyft at 6 AM and try joining in he virtual queue on the app. Pranas: UGH, you have to physically be IN the park to join! And they’re already on boarding group fifteen! Panel 2: I’m now in Hollywood Studios, still nervously refreshing my phone. Caption: I finally get on boarding group 42. Says it’ll board in the afternoon. Pranas: I leave for the airport at five! This is gonna be CLOSE!

Comic Panel 1: I stand in line for Star Tours, nervously looking at my phone. Caption: I kill time in the park but it stalls at groups 10-20 for a few hours. Pranas: Sigh… Panel 2: I’m in front of the Chinese Theater, still nervously looking at my phone. Pranas: Sigh… Panel 3: I’m riding Slinky Dog Dash, still nervous and sad. Pranas: Sigh… Panel 4: I’m in line for the Toy Story Alien Swirling Saucers ride, looking down at my phone, devastated. I’m talking with some fellow Disney adults. Woman: I heard ‘Rise’ broke down but it’s finally back up! Pranas: Boarding groups are moving but it says I’m not loading until evening! I’m not gonna make it…

Comic Panel 1: Devastated I walk out the entrance of Hollywood Studios. I’m hunched over, one hand clenched my heart, the other like a long noodle drags on the ground. Pranas: I came all this way… So close… And yet… Panel 2: I turn into a crying, crawling slug monster. A man walks behind me, with a disappointed look. Pranas: SOB! IT’S JUST NOT FAIR! BOO HOO BOO HOO! Guy: Yikes!

Comic Panel 1: Still a slug monster I look down at my phone on the ground. Phone: DING! Pranas: Huh? Panel 2: Still the slug, I hold up the phone. Phone: Group 42 now boarding. You’re ready for your journey! Panel 3: I explode out of my slug self, back to normal. A mom shield her young son away from me. Pranas: YIPPEE! Mom: Don’t look at him, honey…

Rise of the Resistance 3/5

Comic Panel 1: I walk through Batuu, alone, admiring everything. Caption: Max has to do journalism stuff, so I go explore Batuu on my own… Panel 2: In a toy shop I point to a plush Porg. Pranas: Merch! Panel 3: With a mouth full of food I juggle Blue Milk, a Ronto Wrap, and a themed bottle of Diet Coke above my head. Pranas: FOOD! Panel 4: Me with heart eyes, admiring the Dok-Ondar animatronic. Pranas: Animatronics!

Comic Panel 1: sadly, I watch a parent and kid with a just purchased lightsaber. Caption: There’s lots of things you can’t do here unless you pay extra for… Pranas: Wish I could at least watch the lightsaber making show… Panel 2: Sadly, I watch a kid hold up their just bought droid. Pranas: Wish I could get closer to the droid building area… Panel 3: Sadly, I watch people go into Oga’s Cantina. Pranas: Wish I’d made a reservation so I could just see DJ-Rex… Panel 4: Dejected, I walk away. Pranas: Being poor at Disney World sure has its drawbacks…

Comic Panel 1: I walk into the Star Wars themed bathrooms, excited. Pranas: GASP! Even the bathrooms are themed! I can take a POOP in Star Wars! Panel 2: I nervously hold up my phone while an annoyed guy at a urinal looks over at me. Pranas: Would…it be weird if I took a picture in here? Urinal Guy: What the…?

Comic Panel 1: Max and I sit in the waiting area for the Smugglers Run ride. Caption: Meet up with Max and we hop on Smuggler’s Run. Pranas: Ha ha! I’m INSIDE the Millennium Falcon! Panel 2: We are now in the cockpit of the ride. Max and I are in the pilot seats. TIE Fighters are on the view screen. Max: Punch it, P-Man! Pranas: Ha ha! I’m FLYING the Millennium Falcon!

Rise of the Resistance 2/5

Comic Panel 1: Young me sits in a crowded movie theater eating popcorn. Caption: I first saw Star Wars in 1997 when I was 11 years old… Obi-Wan (off panel): Use the Force, Luke! Panel 2: I watch the Death Star blow up on screen in awe. Caption: As the Death Star blew up, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. Panel 3: Close up of my excited face. Young Pranas: I want to tell stories!

Comic Panel 1: Present day me sits at a drafting table drawing a comic. Random Star Wars stuff is scattered around the studio. I look over at my phone ringing. SFX: RING! Pranas: Huh? Why is Max calling? Panel 2: I answer the phone, smiling ear to ear. Max (on phone): Yoooo! Disney is flying me out for the opening of Rise of the Resistance. Wanna come with?

Comic Panel 1: Max and I stand in front of the archway that leads to the Star Wars area of Disney Hollywood Studios. Random park goers are around. Max: You ready for this? Pranas: I… I think so… Panel 2: Max pulls out his phone while my face is shocked. Max: Hold on, gotta get this on video!

Comic Panel 1: Giant full page panel of me walking into Batuu for the first time. Max keeps filming in his phone while I’m in awe. Pranas: Oh. My. GOD!

Yesterday was the 5th anniversary of Rise of the Resistance at Walt Disney World. I got to go to the opening & cover it thanks to @maxevry.bsky.social

Wanted to do more of this sort of theme park/pop culture journalism through comics but then the pandemic happened. Oh well!

1/5

Drop the Lock Screen 📱

Always more PB. Always. (And it’s gotta be crunchy)

👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻 would love to be added

👋🏻 Chicago cartoonist here!

Favorite movie, gif only

Chocolate Long John

This is a 3-page comic and there is much to describe but I'll try my best. Infused in our culture is the promise of a quicker, easier way to do things. It's nice to have direct access to the things you regularly use and enjoy. [panels show microwaving water for tea, and letting a bag of prepackaged tea steep in a mug] But maybe not all processes are a burden. If you find yourself gaining speed, but losing focus, take a look at which processes give you energy. [panels show a cyclops girl drawing with the previous mug of tea- as time goes on, she appears to get more tired, and picks up the tea mug to consider it.]

Rush through the processes you don't like. [Panel shows cyclops girl walking past a dishwasher] Take a little longer with the ones you do. [An arrangement of 8 panels that shows the process of blending a tea by hand in a mortar and pestle and infusing in a teapot over the stove]

And in doing so, create little rituals for yourself. [Open illustration shows cyclops girl enjoying some tea in an armchair, surrounded by plants. It appears that she has recharged her energy in a small but effective way]

reposting something old, checking in like this continues to be useful
#comic #ritual

Just saw Wicked. Went in cold, never seeing the musical, only knowing the basic story, the two big songs and…

Wow.

Also wasn’t expecting the undertones (overtones really?) of fascism. It hit right in the damn gut in this current political climate.

Please don’t threaten me with a good time!

Hell yeah! A Birdie Haiku Original! I’m honored! 💙

It’s my birthday.

Please clap.

Boo Berry

Count Chocula

Franken Berry

I just think these guys are neat!

#monstercereals #adicons #booberry #countchocula #frankenberry

How very Christian of him 🙄

Like, I was already disappointed in this guy but…god DAMN.

My wife (and cats) have joined BlueSky! 😻👸🏻😻

Sees a tv ad for healthcare.gov.

Bold of you to assume we’ll still have the ACA in a year.

Sees a tv ad for instant mac and cheese.

Bold of you to assume we’ll still have a functioning society in a year.

🤮🤮🤮

They truly are a special level of stupid, huh?

The (mostly) funny answer: It’s the only thing I know how to do.

The (more) serious answer: To feel human and try to come to terms with what it means to be one.

Anyways, tax the god dammed churches.

Was at a Catholic wedding today. Nice big cathedral. HUGE. First thought after walking in (once I realized my heathen skin wasn’t burning off) was “Wow, imagine how many schools they could have built and staffed instead. How many homeless folks they could have fed and housed? HMMMM.”

I got ‘dem bones. Maybe too many…