Great news fellow animation lovers,
Sunday June 14, 2015, a great underrated animated classic will be on Turner Classic Movies. This classic is "Mr. Bug Goes to Town", the Fleischer Brothers second and final animated feature film. Even though this movie is often times associated with the end of the studio (Though this has been argued as being for many reasons (most commonly lack of promotion and being released on the day pearl harbor was bombed).), it is actually a very well made film and a great last hurrah for the Fleischer Studio (Popeye, Betty Boop, Out of the Inkwell, etc.).
So tune into TCM on June 14th at 5:00pm Pacific Time or 8:00pm eastern for a great animated classic that has been unjustly forgotten.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Sunday, May 3, 2015
The Prophet
Hello fellow animation lovers. Do you wonder what Roger Allers (Director of the Lion King) has been up to lately?
Well a new animated movie will be premiering August 7th. This will be called the prophet and will be based off of Kahlil Gibran's book.
Although Roger Allers will be supervising director and directing all the bridging segments, this movie will have various directors and animation styles. Each poem from the book will have a different director and be animated in the style of their films. These directors include Tomm Moore, Joan Gratz, Bill Plympton, Nina Paley, Joann Sfar, Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, Michal Socha and Mohammed Harib.
So be ready to enjoy this film when it comes, I will be.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Well a new animated movie will be premiering August 7th. This will be called the prophet and will be based off of Kahlil Gibran's book.
Although Roger Allers will be supervising director and directing all the bridging segments, this movie will have various directors and animation styles. Each poem from the book will have a different director and be animated in the style of their films. These directors include Tomm Moore, Joan Gratz, Bill Plympton, Nina Paley, Joann Sfar, Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, Michal Socha and Mohammed Harib.
So be ready to enjoy this film when it comes, I will be.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Happy 85th Birthday Looney Tunes
April 19th, 1930, what would become the greatest series of short films, and the greatest series of cartoons would enjoy it's first cartoon's first theatrical release. The series would be Looney Tunes, and the cartoon would be "Sinkin' in the Bathtub".
This film was made before the familiar characters of Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, and so on, would be created. The staring character for this cartoon was Bosko. One of the most groundbreaking things about Bosko was the use of synchronized dialog. While sound cartoons had existed before this, none of them, not even Disney, had been able to accomplish with synchronized dialog, what these Bosko cartoon had accomplished.
The Creators of Bosko were Hugh Harmon and Rudolph Ising. Both had worked with Walt Disney, mainly on the Alice Comedies, and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons. After they left Walt, they constantly wanted to compete with Disney on his own terms. While these two men were great pioneers of animation, and great talents in their own right, this led them to spend much of there time trying to be as much like Disney as possible. Because of this Bosko, despite being a really likable character, was mostly a Mickey Mouse imitator, and a thinly disguised one at that. On top of that jokes were often reused from Oswald cartoons, they themselves had worked on, such as the joke of a big Bosko breaking into a bunch of little Boskos (used in this film). However despite a lack of originality in this cartoon (Besides the synchronized dialog), this film is a very fun and enjoyable cartoon, even to early Disney fans who might recognize most of this from other cartoons. This is because it is done with such talent it kind of doesn't matter how original or not it is.
This film also has animation by Friz Freling and Robert Mckimson, who later become two of the series' most prolific directors (Robert Mckimson would in fact direct "Injun Trouble" from 1969, which would be the last Looney Tunes cartoon).
So here is "Sinkin' in the Bathtub"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laBh-e1r-Yc
-Michael J. Ruhland
This film was made before the familiar characters of Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Bugs Bunny, and so on, would be created. The staring character for this cartoon was Bosko. One of the most groundbreaking things about Bosko was the use of synchronized dialog. While sound cartoons had existed before this, none of them, not even Disney, had been able to accomplish with synchronized dialog, what these Bosko cartoon had accomplished.
The Creators of Bosko were Hugh Harmon and Rudolph Ising. Both had worked with Walt Disney, mainly on the Alice Comedies, and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit cartoons. After they left Walt, they constantly wanted to compete with Disney on his own terms. While these two men were great pioneers of animation, and great talents in their own right, this led them to spend much of there time trying to be as much like Disney as possible. Because of this Bosko, despite being a really likable character, was mostly a Mickey Mouse imitator, and a thinly disguised one at that. On top of that jokes were often reused from Oswald cartoons, they themselves had worked on, such as the joke of a big Bosko breaking into a bunch of little Boskos (used in this film). However despite a lack of originality in this cartoon (Besides the synchronized dialog), this film is a very fun and enjoyable cartoon, even to early Disney fans who might recognize most of this from other cartoons. This is because it is done with such talent it kind of doesn't matter how original or not it is.
This film also has animation by Friz Freling and Robert Mckimson, who later become two of the series' most prolific directors (Robert Mckimson would in fact direct "Injun Trouble" from 1969, which would be the last Looney Tunes cartoon).
So here is "Sinkin' in the Bathtub"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laBh-e1r-Yc
-Michael J. Ruhland
Friday, April 17, 2015
Daffy Duck, star of film, video games and comic books, turns 78.
On April 17th, 1937, movie going audiences were introduced to one of the silver screen's greatest stars (ask him yourself and he'll agree). This star however did not appear in a feature film that day, but rather in a short film accompanying that picture. This film was called Porky's Duck Hunt, and the star it introduced was Daffy Duck. As many film and animation historians have noted this was the character that put the looney in Looney Tunes. rarely before had a movie going audience seen this level of wackiness in a cartoon.
However Daffy's debut was not the only important historical note about this film. This cartoon also marked the first time Mel Blanc voiced Porky Pig. Previously Porky's voice had been done by Joe Dougherty. Dougherty really stuttered and unfortunately could not control it. This ate up to much film and these were short films to begin with, so not much time could be spared. So he was with this cartoon replaced by Mel Blanc, who also did the voice for Daffy.
This cartoon was directed by Tex Avery (credited as Fred Avery). Tex was known for revolutionizing the style of the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. With his influence these series got away from imitating Disney, and went on to do things Disney would never do (breaking the 4th wall, exaggerated gags). With him these series and the whole cartoon industry changed.
One of the animators on this cartoon was Bob Clampett (later to become a great director). Tex told him to have Daffy exit anyway Bob could think of. His idea was to having Daffy jump across the screen "Woo-Hooing" This would of course become one of Daffy's trademarks.
So here is Porky's Duck Hunt:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dj6ok_porky-s-duck-hunt_shortfilms?start=10
-Michael J. Ruhland
However Daffy's debut was not the only important historical note about this film. This cartoon also marked the first time Mel Blanc voiced Porky Pig. Previously Porky's voice had been done by Joe Dougherty. Dougherty really stuttered and unfortunately could not control it. This ate up to much film and these were short films to begin with, so not much time could be spared. So he was with this cartoon replaced by Mel Blanc, who also did the voice for Daffy.
This cartoon was directed by Tex Avery (credited as Fred Avery). Tex was known for revolutionizing the style of the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. With his influence these series got away from imitating Disney, and went on to do things Disney would never do (breaking the 4th wall, exaggerated gags). With him these series and the whole cartoon industry changed.
One of the animators on this cartoon was Bob Clampett (later to become a great director). Tex told him to have Daffy exit anyway Bob could think of. His idea was to having Daffy jump across the screen "Woo-Hooing" This would of course become one of Daffy's trademarks.
So here is Porky's Duck Hunt:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1dj6ok_porky-s-duck-hunt_shortfilms?start=10
-Michael J. Ruhland
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Animated Features Before Snow White (Part 2)
When talking about animated features before Snow White, one that has to be mentioned isn't considered to be an animated film. This is the 1933 version of King Kong, directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and Merian C. Cooper, and staring Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, and Bruce Cabot. The reason this needs to be mentioned is because it is a milestone, of the use of animation being used in a live action film. In fact the character of King Kong himself is achieved though stop motion animation. The animation in this film is supervised by Willis H. O'Brian. The animation was so well achieved audiences actually thought King Kong was a man in a monkey suit. This film was a major influence on Ray Harryhausen who would became one of the masters of using stop motion animation in live action film.
The next film up is 1935's The New Gulliver from Russia, and directed by Aleksandr Ptushko. This film was a communist retelling of Gulliver's Travels. This means that the story was changed heavily to promote communist views. Many Russian films from this time period (Both Animated and Live action) were made to well promote communist Russia, or put down capitalist countries. Lenin, himself stated that cinema was their (The Communist Party) greatest tool, and Russian filmmakers took this to heart. It is argued whether this film or Tale of The Fox was the first stop motion animated feature. Tale of the Fox was completed first, but this film was realeased first. This film is very impressive visually, and a great historical watch for people interested in animation and/or world history. However the story is much less impressive and comes off as simply there for propaganda reasons. So if you want to be visually amazed or have a fascinating piece of history this is well worth a watch, however if you want a good, entertaining story, you should watch another Gulliver adaption or read the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhXeMNWEO4
1936 should have the year for the very first Italian feature length animated film. This film would have been The Adventures of Pinocchio. However this film was never released and was probably never completed. What was made of the film has been lost. This film, or what was made of it was directed by Raoul Verdini, and Umberto Spano. This would have also been the first film adaption of Collodi's famous book.
Tale of the Fox is one of my all time favorite movies, and remains one of the greatest animated works of art to this day. This film was the first animated feature from France, and not only the first stop motion animated feature film completed but also the first to contain no live action. It is directed by the great animation pioneer Ladislas Starevich, and his wife, Irene Starevich. Starevich was one of the people (Along with Winsor McCay) heavily responsible, in my mind, for turning animation from a novelty into great art. Unfortunately this was his only foray into animated features (He had directed a live action feature called "The Night Before Christmas" in 1912). However what an amazing film this is. It features a brilliantly written script based off the folk character Reynard the Fox. Released the same year (1937) as Snow White, this was heavily different from the type of animated feature Disney would pioneer. It was a very immoral tale that followed the antagonist, and treated his character with more respect than the other characters. While he is not a admirable character by any means, he is quite likable when compared to the corrupt, and hypocritical political system he is fighting. We root for him because he knows who he is and it doesn't bother him. This is also some of the best looking stop motion animation ever made, even today. The characters are real and completely readable though how the look alone. Overall this film is a brilliant work of art that still today remains just as smart, subversive, entertaining, and impressive as it must have been back in 1937.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsdTCsfnxc
The next film is one that still survives, yet I have not been able to been able to find. Also from 1937 this film is "The Seven Ravens", from Germany. It was directed by the brother team of Ferdinand Dahl, and Hermann Diehl, and based off the Brothers Grimm tale of the same name. This was released on December 2, 1937, the same month as Snow White, therefore it barely made it on this list.
-Michael J. Ruhland
The next film up is 1935's The New Gulliver from Russia, and directed by Aleksandr Ptushko. This film was a communist retelling of Gulliver's Travels. This means that the story was changed heavily to promote communist views. Many Russian films from this time period (Both Animated and Live action) were made to well promote communist Russia, or put down capitalist countries. Lenin, himself stated that cinema was their (The Communist Party) greatest tool, and Russian filmmakers took this to heart. It is argued whether this film or Tale of The Fox was the first stop motion animated feature. Tale of the Fox was completed first, but this film was realeased first. This film is very impressive visually, and a great historical watch for people interested in animation and/or world history. However the story is much less impressive and comes off as simply there for propaganda reasons. So if you want to be visually amazed or have a fascinating piece of history this is well worth a watch, however if you want a good, entertaining story, you should watch another Gulliver adaption or read the book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGhXeMNWEO4
1936 should have the year for the very first Italian feature length animated film. This film would have been The Adventures of Pinocchio. However this film was never released and was probably never completed. What was made of the film has been lost. This film, or what was made of it was directed by Raoul Verdini, and Umberto Spano. This would have also been the first film adaption of Collodi's famous book.
Tale of the Fox is one of my all time favorite movies, and remains one of the greatest animated works of art to this day. This film was the first animated feature from France, and not only the first stop motion animated feature film completed but also the first to contain no live action. It is directed by the great animation pioneer Ladislas Starevich, and his wife, Irene Starevich. Starevich was one of the people (Along with Winsor McCay) heavily responsible, in my mind, for turning animation from a novelty into great art. Unfortunately this was his only foray into animated features (He had directed a live action feature called "The Night Before Christmas" in 1912). However what an amazing film this is. It features a brilliantly written script based off the folk character Reynard the Fox. Released the same year (1937) as Snow White, this was heavily different from the type of animated feature Disney would pioneer. It was a very immoral tale that followed the antagonist, and treated his character with more respect than the other characters. While he is not a admirable character by any means, he is quite likable when compared to the corrupt, and hypocritical political system he is fighting. We root for him because he knows who he is and it doesn't bother him. This is also some of the best looking stop motion animation ever made, even today. The characters are real and completely readable though how the look alone. Overall this film is a brilliant work of art that still today remains just as smart, subversive, entertaining, and impressive as it must have been back in 1937.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsdTCsfnxc
The next film is one that still survives, yet I have not been able to been able to find. Also from 1937 this film is "The Seven Ravens", from Germany. It was directed by the brother team of Ferdinand Dahl, and Hermann Diehl, and based off the Brothers Grimm tale of the same name. This was released on December 2, 1937, the same month as Snow White, therefore it barely made it on this list.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Friday, February 27, 2015
Twice Upon a Time (1983) to be released on Home Video
Great news fellow animation lovers. Twice Upon a Time has been a very hard to find cult classic that has captivated many fans (well of those who have seen it) of animation, film and off-beat humor. However being able to see it is going to become much easier now. Co-director John Korty has announced that it will be released on home video this spring.
Both versions of this movie are going to be released as well. The original version and the 'adult' version. The 'adult' version was made behind Korty's back and features some vulgar ad-libs from the voice actors.
So hopefully with this many other animation fans will see this hilarious off-beat animated comedy, love it, and share it with more animation fans.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Both versions of this movie are going to be released as well. The original version and the 'adult' version. The 'adult' version was made behind Korty's back and features some vulgar ad-libs from the voice actors.
So hopefully with this many other animation fans will see this hilarious off-beat animated comedy, love it, and share it with more animation fans.
-Michael J. Ruhland
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Cat and Mouse Games: The History of Tom and Jerry (Part 6)
The next time William Hanna and Joesph Barbera would get hold of the cat and mouse who first cemented their names in animation history it would work out better. This show was Tom and Jerry Kids and premiered in 1990. Tom and Jerry were once again antagonists. While the violence was heavily toned down from the original shorts it was still there. The slapstick humor could not match that of the classic cartoons, but it still had it's own charm and wit. This show was a kid's show however, and not the all ages entertainment that was the original shorts. That doesn't mean this show would be torture for adults watching (as something like Dora, or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse would be), in facts adults can enjoy it, however it is much more entertaining for kids than for adults. This show also featured segments staring another MGM cartoon star Droopy. As much as I love Droopy, these cartoons make you wish his cartoons were still being done by Tex Avery, and his voice was still being done by Bill Thomson (No offense to Don Messick, who was in fact a great voice actor, it just that Bill Thomson was Droopy). The Droopy segment later got it's own spin off called Droopy Master Detective in 1993.
In 1992 Tom and Jerry would make their return to the big screen in a feature length film called Tom and Jerry: The Movie. This film was produced by the company Film Roman, which was founded by animator Phil Roman, who actually worked as an animator on the Chuck Jones era Tom and Jerry. Phil Roman also directed this movie. Film Roman is also the company that bring us The Simpsons. Despite the title, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, the main problem with this film is it is not truly a Tom and Jerry Movie. Of all the revivals of Tom and Jerry, this one bares the least resemblance to the classic cartoons. In this Rescuers-esque plot Tom and Jerry help a little girl find her father, and there is little slapstick humor. This is simply not the movie fans of the cat and mouse wanted for their feature length debut. As a stand alone movie this movie is entertaining but largely forgettable. This was in fact not the first time Tom and Jerry were considered as subjects for a feature. Chuck Jones was going to make one in the 1970's, however he could not find a suitable script.
....To Be Continued
-Michael J. Ruhland
In 1992 Tom and Jerry would make their return to the big screen in a feature length film called Tom and Jerry: The Movie. This film was produced by the company Film Roman, which was founded by animator Phil Roman, who actually worked as an animator on the Chuck Jones era Tom and Jerry. Phil Roman also directed this movie. Film Roman is also the company that bring us The Simpsons. Despite the title, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, the main problem with this film is it is not truly a Tom and Jerry Movie. Of all the revivals of Tom and Jerry, this one bares the least resemblance to the classic cartoons. In this Rescuers-esque plot Tom and Jerry help a little girl find her father, and there is little slapstick humor. This is simply not the movie fans of the cat and mouse wanted for their feature length debut. As a stand alone movie this movie is entertaining but largely forgettable. This was in fact not the first time Tom and Jerry were considered as subjects for a feature. Chuck Jones was going to make one in the 1970's, however he could not find a suitable script.
....To Be Continued
-Michael J. Ruhland
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)