A few months back, a local came across a girl on the beach who, from a distance, looked to be relaxing in the sun. Upon a closer look, she had the upper body of a woman and the lower half of a fish with scales and fins. She appears for a few hours near sunset and does tricks for onlookers in the sea, yet disappears for the remainder of the evening.

A $1 million dollar reward has been offered for anyone who can snap a photo of the mermaid in action.

People have long been fascinated by mermaids, from the times of ancient Greece to centuries ago when Hans Christian Anderson wrote his tragic fairy tale, “The Little Mermaid,” which was Disney-fied up with a happy ending for singing mermaid, Ariel and friends. Some skeptics claim that some of the mermaids sighted are nothing more than manatees swimming close to the beach.

Kiryat Yam seems to be boosting tourist numbers with the prospect of seeing a mermaid. Will the fascination with these (possibly?) mythical creatures carry over to Halloween costumes? These cool, oceanic beauties may find themselves on the hot list for 2009 Halloween costumes if mermaid sightings keep up, planting a subtle cue to capture the attention of party-goers the same way Israel’s mermaid has become a focal point.

A number of beautiful styles of striking (and surprisingly easy to walk in!) mermaid costumes are available in a variety of sizes to suit sea sprites of all ages. Little girls may want to opt for the more familiar face of the Little Mermaid with officially licensed Disney costumes and wigs. However, other mermaid costumes are available in a variety of colors and styles, ranging from pink to shimmering green, and some with dazzling sequins.

Adult ladies may want to choose from slightly racier styles that can either offer full coverage (such as the Elite Mermaid costume with it’s beautiful hot pink bodice and cleverly ruffled tail in aqua blue) or the glittery two-piece, midriff baring Mesmerizing Mermaid costume. Fun accessories you may want include a sea-themed tiara or a “seaweed” draped Mermaid Purse or Shell Purse.

Who knows, you just might be mistaken for a real mermaid!

Much like Polar Express, this upcoming holiday movie boasts an A-list cast of voices. The versatile Jim Carrey as Ebeneezer Scrooge, as well as the three Christmas ghosts. Gary Oldman provides the voice of family man and Scrooge’s long-suffering clerk, Bob Cratchet. Other noteworthy names featured in the cast include Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins, and Colin Firth. Disney’s A Christmas Carol is scheduled for a November 6th, 2009 release date.

An official trailer has not been released yet, but Disney does have a 20-second teaser trailer featuring Ebeneezer and the ghost of his old partner, Jacob Marley. You can check it out here.

So far, no official costumes have been released, however, if you’re planning a Christmas in July, or preparing for a local staging of A Christmas Carol, there are plenty of Dickens-inspired costumes such as Scrooge in his jammies, a ghostly gentleman Jacob Marley costume, and Victorian costumes and accessories to outfit the entire Cratchet family!

Disney continues to entertain us with the numerous animated films they create. Last year it was Bolt among other movies. This year they are bringing out several top movies including a new rendition of The Princess and the Frog. We all know the story. A princess meets a talking frog. This frog tells the young girl if she will give him a kiss he will provide true love. Disney has decided to give a new twist to the story this time.

Imagine the French Quarter as it has always been in Louisiana, especially during the 1920’s at the height of Jazz and the Blues. The tale begins with a Princess named Tiana. She is of African American decent. Combined with Tiana and the Frog Prince Disney has given us a trumpet playing alligator, love sick Cajun Firefly, and several other characters to win over our hearts.

But, there is one small catch. The movie will not be released until December 25, 2009. There will be a long wait to see the film; however, don’t lose hope. Disney’s announcement of the film gives you plenty of time to be ready for the next costume or Halloween party. Your daughter or son may find plenty of costume inspiration in the Princess and the Frog.

Princess Tiana costumes allow for a lily pad style dress with green and white mixed together. Long white gloves, a flowery crown, and princess jewels add to the costume. Any princess will be happy to choose this costume.

You can’t forget the Frog Prince costume either. As a romantic love story it is necessary to have the Frog costume for couples. These Disney costumes are not just for kids. The story allows for any adult or child to enjoy the love and the costumes being designed.

There are already three costumes available for Princess Tiana. The dress varies in style from a short skirt to an ankle length skirt and modified headdress. Let the Trumpet Playing Alligator costume liven up your party with a little Jazz! You can never go wrong with something a little bit silly. This film by Disney is going to take us back to the world of hand drawn animation, which makes it even more memorable and very unlike the CGI creations of the recent past.

Disney Pixar’s latest 3D film UP, hit box offices Friday. As the true Memorial Day rolled around totals for what movies grosses this weekend were tallied. UP had an explosive weekend sending the creators of the film into the Stratosphere! UP gained an estimated $68.2 million at the box office which is in line with other Pixar films such as the “Incredibles” and “Finding Nemo.” Experts of the film felt the septuagenarian hero of the film would not interest kids, but they under estimated the power of Disney and Pixar. The film was indeed filled with hilarity and perhaps the non traditional bent to the story was what actually gained such recognition.

Only 5 percent of movie goers this weekend to UP were estimated to be 50 or over. Children flocked to the film to see the moving house gain its inhabitant adventure. It is unknown how much Disney actually spent on the concept, but you can bet their budget was huge especially due to the marketing side of things. UP is the first ever film at the Cannes Film Festival to be shown on opening night and to be animated.

The concept of UP has yielded us with plenty of costume concepts. The main character is 78 year old Carl Fredricksen, making Old Man costumes quite popular this year. Carl tied thousands of balloons to his house in order to get him and his house to South America. During the flight Carl realizes he is not alone since Russell 70 years younger somehow became a stowaway. The grandchild costume is going to be another hit with his friends along for the ride. The two meet a dog called Dug. Dug has a translator collar so he actually has a human voice.

Dug the Dog makes our third choice for a costume. Dog costumes vary, but this one will need to be humanly translated making it interesting. Our very last concept for a costume is a house costume. After all the house in UP is a huge concept with its balloons tied on the top!! The possibilities for costumes are endless as is the profit from such a 3D sensation in its first weekend release.

Two great flicks for children are coming out this year. The first movie is going to be released on June 24th. The second is going to bring a plethora of anticipation as the opening date is December 2009. But what could we be talking about? Well, the first film that may just capture our attention is called G-Force. The second film is Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel. For any adult who grew up with the animated cartoon on Saturday mornings, this second film is sure to be just as good as the first.

Both films are going to provide more than fun for us all. They will also have some of the top Halloween costumes for small children. There is nothing cuter than a Guinea Pig costume or a Chipmunk costume to make your children more adorable. However, before we get into the details of possible costume ideas, let’s take a look at what both films will hold when talking about fuzzy talking animals!!

G-Force does not stand for the gravitational force, but instead it is the Guinea Pig Force. Guinea Pigs are going to have to rally in this 3D adventure in order to say the world from a diabolical enemy. Secret Agent Guinea Pigs are on the case to stop a billionaire who is going to take over the world with… you guessed it HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES! That’s right the Guinea squad is going to have to use their special training in a jam packed film to thrill your children. Disney certainly has created yet another film we will enjoy.

Characters in the film include Agent Darwin a brainy Guinea Pig bent of evolution or perhaps just a secret agent saving the world. Agent Blaster, Agent Juarez, and Hurley are some of the other costume ideas you will have to choose from. They are dressed to the nines when it comes to the ultimate weapons and communication devices.

As for the Chipmunks well you will have Alvin, Theodore, Simon, and David Seville back in action. Alvin is up to his usual tricks in getting into trouble while still singing for Seville. The plot details have yet to be released in a full summary, but there are some trailers available. So far Fox is the only network to be hinting about any plot and since they are behind its creation it is no wonder they are showing very little right now.

For all you fans out there know that Alvin costumes or even chipmunk costumes should be on your list for the next costume party or Halloween. The year is going to be filled with fuzzy little creatures dominating the screens so watch out for G- Force in June, and check back for more details as they come on Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel!

Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure is the latest fairy movie released by Disney, starring Tinker Bell. The theme of the Lost Treasure will come alive during the 2009 tour of Disney on Ice. But there is much more to be seen with Tinker Bell and other Disney icons. In 2010 Tinker Bell will reappear on screen in Midsummer Storm. In 2011 A Winter Story will be released. Tinker Bell certainly has some work cut out for herself, as the magical fairy takes on more adventures.

The current economy has certainly taken its toll on many families. It doesn’t seem to matter where you live. Purchasing new items can be difficult, but if you have growing kids there is no way around buying new toys, clothes, and other items. There is also the fact that if you are done having more kids you have tons of toys for younger ages that are no longer useful. A baby born just months before Halloween may have a size 6 months Halloween costume, but chances are you will not be able to use it again.

Each state in the USA is falling on hard times. Hundreds of people are out of work, struggling, yet they do not want their children to suffer.
Halloween is still a few months away. You have plenty of time to organize a charity event or consignment sale to help out the many families. Whether you are donating a Disney Princess costume or selling a Jack Sparrow costume on consignment this is one of the best ways to go about it.

Pirates have long been romanticized by writers and Hollywood films. Jack Sparrow is just the most recent encapsulation of this. Captain Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp, is a swashbuckler with a decent heart. Though portrayed with a bit of a selfish center he did come around to helping the good guys when it mattered most. While the three movies have been out for a while now, the characterizations are falling under heavy scrutiny. Children are alarmed at the recent news with Somalian Pirates taking over ships and holding Americans captive. Two boys from Michigan were interviewed by the local press stating that they were pirates last year for Halloween, but this year they don’t think it would be right. Pirates are not at all like they are portrayed in the films, books, and television in fiction. Most often the pirates are shown as fairly decent individuals, who seek treasure. There are certain evil pirate depictions in films like Cut Throat Island where you have the evil pirates being stopped by the good pirates. It does come down to the battle of good and evil in fiction.

Unfortunately reality is not always going to yield the best. Somalian Pirates are more reminiscent of Blackbeard and Black Bart. These pirates sailed the seas in the 1700’s pillaging ships and creating bloody battles. We like to think that civilization has outstripped the need for piracy, but the truth is there are still pirates in the world. These individuals tend to live in third world countries, but that is not always the case.

For children the reality can be devastating. They are learning that their heroes may not be as great as they appear to be. The lesson that can be learned from the recent news and the deviation from reality in books and media is that children do need to understand there is a difference. Captain Jack Sparrow certainly has some less than favourable qualities, which make the movies more comical. Fiction does make great costumes, and children should be allowed to choose who they want to be, but to know the difference between real “pirates” over those of fiction.

Pirate costumes like Jack Sparrow will hold their own in the costume world. While the industry may see a small decline in the ever popular Jack Sparrow for a little bit it will no doubt rally.

Yes, you read it right, 2010! How can we, at CostumZee, predict this?

Well, thanks to an amazing movie director named Tim Burton, we can tell you that kids (and maybe adults) will be all over Alice in Wonderland costumes in 2010.

The movie is set to start being filmed in May 2008, only a few months now. I have no info yet on the cast, but I cannot even imagine that Johnny Depp won’t be starring in that movie. I think it’s a no brainer.

All I can say is that this is going to be a huge hit at the movies, probably one of the best movie earner in 2010 for this popular tale story that is being brought back to life and this is a going to be a hit for Halloween 2010. Wanna bet? See you back for Halloween 2010? We’ll be there waiting to tell you… “I told you so!”

It would seem that director Tim Burton has an unparalleled love for the holidays. The gothic-leaning filmsmith’s latest movie, an adaptation of the Broadway musical, “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” is due out in theatres on December 21, 2007 — days before the Christmas holiday.

While Sweeney Todd isn’t the warmest of characters (although the “meat pies” he makes from his victims are piping hot), Burton has seemed to have some luck with films around the warmest of seasons. With the Victorian-era styled “Sweeney Todd” springing to mind the similarly attired characters of Charles’ Dickens “A Christmas Carol,” it also calls to mind yet another holiday-themed Tim Burton film.

Still possessing a rabid fan following over ten years after its original theatrical release, Nightmare Before Christmas is another stroke of luck and genius on Burton’s part centering around the holidays.

Make the holidays a little more festive if you’re similarly gothic-ly inclined and host your own Christmas-time Tim Burton film festival. Dress up in costumes inspired by several of his films — or head to his latest in either Victorian or Sally n’ Skellington style! Just so long as you make it merry!