Oi vey, it's already been a rough week and it's just TUESDAY! Kids are on spring break and EVERYONE is sick. I'm surprised I managed to crank out an entry for the Saturday Night Contest. But I still manage to crank out the weekly Tenyo reviews!
I did acquire some new Tenyo, but I think I need to get to some other Tenyo reviews out of the way that have been waiting in the queue for as long as they have. Looking at you, 'Zone Infinity', 'Soft Coins', and 'DISNEY 'FROZEN' PENDANT!
DISNEY 'FROZEN' PENDANT
Inventor: Shigeru Sugawara
Year: 2015
Cost: $12-$25
Type of Effect: Restoration
Skill Level: Intermediate
CONTENTS:
- 'Frozen' themed snowflake necklace
- 1 Envelope
EFFECT #1:
You, the magician, present: a pendant, a necklace chain and an envelope. You place the pendant in the envelope and dip the necklace chain inside the envelope. When you take the necklace chain out, the pendant has magically ATTACHED ITSELF TO THE CHAIN! You even show the inside of the envelope to show that it is completely empty!
REVIEW:
Okay, first things first. The 'Frozen Pendant' is actually a redesign of the original 'Pendant' made back in 1978. Since then, 'Pendant' has been remade a few times, each with a different Disney theme. You have a version with an outline of the Mickey Mouse head outline, one of Cinderella's Slipper, and more recently: a 'Frozen' snowflake.
This is going to be a tough one to review because it's one of the more 'simple' and non-mechanical Tenyo. Because of this, all one can really review this on is aesthetic and how the props actually hold up. Easy enough--sort of.
The pendant is VERY nice--even has a bit of weight to it, and the chain is pretty sturdy. The snowflake even has a blue jewel in the center. I know that's probably not going to sway ones descision in this or not, but I figure I'd mention it, and it gives the snowflake a nice look to it instead of being all shiny and chrome.
The envelope has a very subtle and beautiful picture of Elsa on it. And it operates and has the sturdiness of what you would expect from a normal paper envelope.
Now that we are done with the aesthetic, here's the thing, you do miss out on one BIG thing with the 'Frozen Pendant'. And it has to do with how its presented. There are a few ways of presenting 'Pendant'. The stock presentation uses the envelope, but you can do without it. However, it'll require a bit more practice and timing to perform the restoration effect properly. There is a way to impossibly pull the pendant OFF the chain with all the versions EXCEPT the 'Frozen' version. From what I have been told, this is due because of the design of the pendant. Which stinks that it's the only version in which you can't impossibly take the pendant off the chain due to the massive populatity and recognizable aspect of 'Frozen'. I mean, the Mickey Mouse outline is recognizable too, but c'mon! It's freakin 'Frozen'!
The problem I had with the whole thing is that it looks like a trick that you'd give to someone younger--being Disney and 'Frozen' and all. Plus, a LOT of the Tenyo that get remade with a Disney theme are typically tricks that are more designed for younger kids can perform; it's the easier to pull off Tenyo tricks. Of all the Disney/Tenyo mashups that I know about, I would say that the 'Pendants' are one of the more difficult ones to handle. Part of it is the envelope and its fragility (storage-wise, and it's not exactly something that goes in your pocket), you have to do a lot of stuff with one hand--one with the envelops and the other with the necklace. There's a lot going on for younger magicians to work with. I had no idea how involved this thing was until during and after the fact.
Then again, I am speaking from the standpoint of my frutsrated, young daughter.
I make this sound like 'Pendant' is one of the worst Tenyo I have come across. And it's not true. A bit of practice and you can ditch the envelope and you can wear it and do some impromtu magic at a moments notice; which is really nice since it's the only Tenyo that you can WEAR and be ready to do on a whim. That, to me, is a huge positive going for it since the pool of 'table-less' Tenyo is rather small, much less impromptu table-less Tenyo.
Honestly, if you like the 'Pendant' effect, I'd go after the Mickey Mouse head outline or the Ciinderella slipper. The original 'Pendant' is pretty hard to find and quite expensive. However, the aforemtnioned three grant you the ability to have a more versatile routine.
Then again, it's freakin' 'Frozen'!
I did acquire some new Tenyo, but I think I need to get to some other Tenyo reviews out of the way that have been waiting in the queue for as long as they have. Looking at you, 'Zone Infinity', 'Soft Coins', and 'DISNEY 'FROZEN' PENDANT!
DISNEY 'FROZEN' PENDANT
Inventor: Shigeru Sugawara
Year: 2015
Cost: $12-$25
Type of Effect: Restoration
Skill Level: Intermediate
CONTENTS:
- 'Frozen' themed snowflake necklace
- 1 Envelope
EFFECT #1:
You, the magician, present: a pendant, a necklace chain and an envelope. You place the pendant in the envelope and dip the necklace chain inside the envelope. When you take the necklace chain out, the pendant has magically ATTACHED ITSELF TO THE CHAIN! You even show the inside of the envelope to show that it is completely empty!
REVIEW:
Okay, first things first. The 'Frozen Pendant' is actually a redesign of the original 'Pendant' made back in 1978. Since then, 'Pendant' has been remade a few times, each with a different Disney theme. You have a version with an outline of the Mickey Mouse head outline, one of Cinderella's Slipper, and more recently: a 'Frozen' snowflake.
This is going to be a tough one to review because it's one of the more 'simple' and non-mechanical Tenyo. Because of this, all one can really review this on is aesthetic and how the props actually hold up. Easy enough--sort of.
The pendant is VERY nice--even has a bit of weight to it, and the chain is pretty sturdy. The snowflake even has a blue jewel in the center. I know that's probably not going to sway ones descision in this or not, but I figure I'd mention it, and it gives the snowflake a nice look to it instead of being all shiny and chrome.
The envelope has a very subtle and beautiful picture of Elsa on it. And it operates and has the sturdiness of what you would expect from a normal paper envelope.
Now that we are done with the aesthetic, here's the thing, you do miss out on one BIG thing with the 'Frozen Pendant'. And it has to do with how its presented. There are a few ways of presenting 'Pendant'. The stock presentation uses the envelope, but you can do without it. However, it'll require a bit more practice and timing to perform the restoration effect properly. There is a way to impossibly pull the pendant OFF the chain with all the versions EXCEPT the 'Frozen' version. From what I have been told, this is due because of the design of the pendant. Which stinks that it's the only version in which you can't impossibly take the pendant off the chain due to the massive populatity and recognizable aspect of 'Frozen'. I mean, the Mickey Mouse outline is recognizable too, but c'mon! It's freakin 'Frozen'!
The problem I had with the whole thing is that it looks like a trick that you'd give to someone younger--being Disney and 'Frozen' and all. Plus, a LOT of the Tenyo that get remade with a Disney theme are typically tricks that are more designed for younger kids can perform; it's the easier to pull off Tenyo tricks. Of all the Disney/Tenyo mashups that I know about, I would say that the 'Pendants' are one of the more difficult ones to handle. Part of it is the envelope and its fragility (storage-wise, and it's not exactly something that goes in your pocket), you have to do a lot of stuff with one hand--one with the envelops and the other with the necklace. There's a lot going on for younger magicians to work with. I had no idea how involved this thing was until during and after the fact.
Then again, I am speaking from the standpoint of my frutsrated, young daughter.
I make this sound like 'Pendant' is one of the worst Tenyo I have come across. And it's not true. A bit of practice and you can ditch the envelope and you can wear it and do some impromtu magic at a moments notice; which is really nice since it's the only Tenyo that you can WEAR and be ready to do on a whim. That, to me, is a huge positive going for it since the pool of 'table-less' Tenyo is rather small, much less impromptu table-less Tenyo.
Honestly, if you like the 'Pendant' effect, I'd go after the Mickey Mouse head outline or the Ciinderella slipper. The original 'Pendant' is pretty hard to find and quite expensive. However, the aforemtnioned three grant you the ability to have a more versatile routine.
Then again, it's freakin' 'Frozen'!
