A Is for Alien: An ABC Book

[Daikun]

Disney has partnered with Penguin Random House to produce a lighthearted retelling of Alien as a children's alphabet book.

This isn't a joke. You can preorder it here:

A Is for Alien: An ABC Book (20th Century Studios) by Charles Gould: 9780736444842 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

In space no one can hear you giggle as you read this Little Golden Book for all ages featuring the characters from the classic movie Alien! Follow Ripley and the rest of the Nostromo crew on a space...

www.penguinrandomhouse.com

 

[JMTV]

You have got to be kidding me?

Did any executive at The Mouse House got drunk one day when watching Alien and think, "yeah, this is good for kids!" You can not make this crap up.

Alien is not suitable for kids whatsoever. That's like making a Disney Junior show based off of Predator, like why?! Why?!

Look, I never seen the Alien movies, but you don't have to watch Alien to know that this is the most ridiculous idea I've heard Disney can do.

If it was the Simpsons children's book, sure whatever, that's one thing. Kids loves The Simpsons. But freaking Alien?! A rated R MATURE movie gets a children's book?!

Wow.

Yeah, I'm sure 5 year olds sure love to read about a book about a alien creature pop out a person's guts. Totally not scarred for life at all! /s

And people wonder why people say that Disney should never bought Fox. Because of stuff like this.

 

[Fone Bone]

Cthulhu has a children's book too. This is essentially a gag for parents. People taking it seriously don't understand it's a joke.

 

[JMTV]

Cthulhu has a children's book too. This is essentially a gag for parents. People taking it seriously don't understand it's a joke.

True true. You're not wrong on that, but still, I find it so questionable, to put lightly.

 

[Ace]

I thought it was parody at first because Disney has been known for streamlining mature franchises for more general audiences.

but kids do like wierd creepy horror stuff. I mean there's always some indie horror thing that's popular with kids on YouTube so kids might get a laugh out of something like this.

 

[Zorak Masaki]

I've seen parodies of Alien on kids shows like Animaniacs and Regular Show, and there's probably other examples, the Xenomorph has essentially become a stock horror villain now anyway, heck, Alien was part of the late, lamented Great Movie Ride (and that was BEFORE Disney bought FOX).

 

[Frontier]

I'm...really not sure how to respond to this .

 

[LinusFan303]

I saw this earlier and thought it was fake. Kind of funny.
Once upon a time there were Robo-Cop toys and a kids cartoon. (That cartoon is owned by... Disney)

 

[Spacething7474]

Wasn't there a children's book done about The Office too?


this is hilarious I hope as many franchises as possible attempt this

 

[DeanBurrito25]

Very child unfriendly movies like Robocop, Beetlejuice and Ace Ventura got animated series. It's not that unbelievable.

If this does not get a follow-up based on Aliens where "G" stands for "GAME OVER, MAN", I riot. /s

 

[prpis]

You know! For kids!

 

[JMTV]

Very child unfriendly movies like Robocop, Beetlejuice and Ace Ventura got animated series. It's not that unbelievable.

Okay, you’re right. Apologies if I come across as overreacting.

 

[DeanBurrito25]

Okay, you’re right. Apologies if I come across as overreacting.

That was more a general statement more than a target to anyone here, so no worries.
It's [kiddifying adult movies or shows] practically a genre in itself!

 

[Fone Bone]

this is hilarious I hope as many franchises as possible attempt this

It's not REALLY for children. It's a gag gift for parents. That's who it's targeted at.

Very child unfriendly movies like Robocop, Beetlejuice and Ace Ventura got animated series. It's not that unbelievable.

I dispute the idea that Beetlejuice and Ace Ventura weren't child friendly. As for Robocop, it's a different situation than this because THAT cartoon was actually aimed at kids. I think that makes it FAR more objectionable than a preschool Alien book aimed at new parents with a wry sense of humor.

 

[JMTV]

That was more a general statement more than a target to anyone here, so no worries.

Okay I understand. Thank you.

 

[Dr.Pepper]

I know you said this wasn’t a joke, but I still can’t believe it.

Wasn't there a children's book done about The Office too?


this is hilarious I hope as many franchises as possible attempt this

You’re right, but at least The Office is more appropriate.

 

[Zorak Masaki]

It's not REALLY for children. It's a gag gift for parents. That's who it's targeted at.


I dispute the idea that Beetlejuice and Ace Venture weren't child friendly. As for Robocop, it's a different situation than this because THAT cartoon was actually aimed at kids. I think that makes it FAR more objectionable than a preschool Alien book aimed at new parents with a wry sense of humor.

Ace Ventura was far from family friendly. It's got tons of profanity and sexual humor, and the reveal of the main villain is, lets just say, far from PC. The second film is only slightly more toned down. As for the book, it may be a gag gift, but why release it under the Little Golden Book branding if that was the case?

 

[Spacething7474]

It's not REALLY for children. It's a gag gift for parents. That's who it's targeted at.

regardless, this is funny so i wanna see as much as possible like this

 

[Fone Bone]

Ace Ventura was far from family friendly. It's got tons of profanity and sexual humor, and the reveal of the main villain is, lets just say, far from PC.

Back in my day, kids watched far worse. Ace Ventura was mild compared to a PG movie from the 1980's. The Goonies was appalling on every level.

As for the book, it may be a gag gift, but why release it under the Little Golden Book branding if that was the case?

That's part of the gag. It's WHY it's funny.

And they'll sell copies. Ultimately, that's what Little Golden Books are designed to do. Who will really object to a book of theirs for adults and collectors as long as it is still preschool friendly in line with everything else?

You guys are overthinking this.

 

[Pooky]

Ace Ventura was far from family friendly. It's got tons of profanity and sexual humor, and the reveal of the main villain is, lets just say, far from PC. The second film is only slightly more toned down.

"Kids" is a broad term. There's nothing in that film that kids in the 90s weren't joking about themselves by the age of 10, probably younger. Yes, it's very "problematic" now, honestly even when I revisited it in the mid-00s I was kind of shocked, and yes a lot of critics called it out for that even then, but much of society wasn't very PC on those issues in the 90s either, even though we thought we were. Point is it was very popular with kids, even here in the UK where it was officially rated "12+"; popular enough indeed that they went to the trouble of cutting around a minute and a half out of the sequel to secure a more kid friendly "PG" rating. As strange as it may seem to us now, there's a reason they made an Ace Ventura cartoon then.

Anyway, this just looks like "ha ha Adult thing but toned down for kids" which is the flipside of "ha ha kids thing but with explicit content for adults". I don't find either very clever, fresh or funny in 2023. I guess it's the slightly less hackneyed of the two.