Greetings all and Happy June! Of course, we always mention Polychrome at this of the year because she is a fabulous icon for the LGBTQIA+ community this month. With that in mind, I am going to showcase a very colorful place that floats above Oz and is a place that Polychrome visits. It is called Sky Island, a dual-colored island that floats somewhere over the World of Oz. For the post this month, we explore the geography of this very obscure and fascinating island that floats in the skies of Oz, the possible origin of the island, notable residents and locations as well as its limited media legacy and how you can recreate Sky Island in your neck of the woods. Let us begin our tour of Sky Island, its origins, and it's history detailing some important details. Believed to have been around for an indeterminate amount of time and first mentioned to be known to Ozians around 1905 A.D., Sky Island is divided into two countries: The Blue Country and The Pink Country. The Blueskins reside in the Blue Country while the Pinkies reside in the Pink Country. The two countries are separated by an incredibly thick fog bank, which is home to a variety of reptiles and crustaceans. Its location to Oz is unknown as the residents don't even seen to know that there are actually residents on Earth, let alone Oz. Next, we can begin looking at the island itself. It is said to have been in existence for an indefinite amount of time and possibly longer than the World of Oz as they have never had any indication of life on the planet Earth, as least according to the Boolooroo. It magically floats above the Nonestic Ocean (above the World of Oz) and is separated in three distinct regions: The Blue Country, the Fog Bank, and the Pink Country. The Blue Country, always covered in blue nighttime skies, is inhabited by residents called the Blueskins. The Fog Bank is a think, foggy area is inhibited by reptilian and amphibious creatures that are absolutely monstrous. The Pink Country, always covered in pinkish sunlight hues, is inhabited by residents called the Pinkies. The Blue Country and the Pink Country have elected leaders, who are shown above, while the Fog Bank is a democratic hodgepodge of various inhabitants with no leader.
After exploring the geography of this locale, it is time to discuss the limited media legacy of this book out in our world. Up first is the only adaptation that features any characters from this book. It comes from Boomerang's cartoon, Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. In the episode, "Captain Bill in Going Nowhere Fast", we see many characters of this book come to life from Captain Bill, Button Bright, Trot, and the Boolooroo. You can check out the full episode online at Boomerang.com or through the Boomerang app. Here's a clip for your viewing pleasure! That's all there is in terms of actual Sky Island stories and characters. Outside of that adaptation, there is a film that features the magical powers of a character but not the character herself from Sky Island, which is small but still relevant. In the 1914 film, The Magic Cloak of Oz, based on the book, Queen Zixi of Ix, Aunt Rivette has the ability to have visions, which are actually the powers of Rosalie the Witch. Aunt Rivette is from the book, Queen Zixi of Ix (Queen Zick-si of icks), and Rosalie the Witch is from the book Sky Island. This was common practice for Baum to mix-and-match/infuse elements and characters within his films. So, there you have it. It's an odd thing to utilize in a film, but it works. So, if you want to check out how Aunt Rivette embodies Rosalie the witch in The Magic Cloak of Oz, I found a copy of the movie, remastered in HD with music, from The Oz Connection YouTube channel. They also a commentary video of the same film on their channel as well. Enjoy! Now, that we know what the media legacy is for Sky Island, I will now offer some ways that you can bring this dual-colored fantasy to your neck of the woods. Of course, you can always check out the media adaptations above or check out the audiobook version that is available online. It is really well done, especially when they get to the various royalties inside of the story. Next up, you will definitely want to check out the book, Art of Oz (cover below left) by Gabriel Gale. Inside, you will find illustrations of the Boolooroo and Tourmaline. Or check out this graphic novel version of Sky Island with an Asian-inspiration (cover below right). Well, that is our tour of Sky Island. Let me know in the comments if one of these adaptations is your favorite or if there is some Sky Island craft that inspired you; and, until next time, we'll be seeing you somewhere in the Oz-verse.
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May 2024
AuthorMy name is Vinkus Ken and I have been a long time fan of many things in Oz and how their world truly does emulate much of ours. Did you know that they have a flag of their own? Or did you know that they have a law about only having 9 jurors in their courts? Also, Oz has a court system! I like to introduce facts that seem meaningless and bring meaning to them by comparing them to our world. So, come along on this journey and enjoy the ride. |