Comments for post # 12.

Noah -
I am a huge fan of CGI animation, most of the popular ones have had very entertaining plot lines which help color the animation. Toy Story 2 and Monsters Inc. contained some of the most histerical scenes i have ever seen come out of an animation. Though there have been a couple newer animations that have been hand drawn that will forever have a place in my heart, most notably The Trippletts of Belleville. And though i talk big about my admiration for CGI animations, at the days end i could switch off toy story real quick if i got so see a looney toons marathon!

Sarah Henry -
Daria was a great show that i always felt got the short end of the stick in the Bevis and Butthead/Simpsons era. It definately had some of the strogest and most apt characters to apply to bogus high school life. The cheerleader and football jock guy representations were pretty on point. I have found however that it is easier to catch an old episode of Daria than it is to find Bevis and Butthead, this is a good thing. Daria had a much greater depth to the show, perhaps people are coming around?

Post # 12. Aaahh!!! Real Monsters mmmhhhmmmm

Aaahh!!! Real Monsters is an animation produced by the Nickelodeon powered production studio Klasky-Csupo, which has had its fair share of popular animated series. Most notably would be The Simpsons (1989), The Rugrats (1991), Duckman (1994) and more recently The Wild Thornberrys (1998). Aaahh!!! Real Monsters did not achieve the same success as some of their counterparts. The series aired from 1994 to 1997 and produced 52 episodes in its time.

The main idea of the show was pretty simple rather entertaining. It revolved around three characters Ickis, Oblina and Krumm. These three teenaged characters were attending a sort of Monster in training school. Located under the city dump it is here that an entire group of monsters are being trained how to terrify children and adults alike above them. Most of the entertainment came from the struggles faced by the characters when they attempted to perform scare tactics for homework assignments.

The absurdity of the characters in the show were what truly made it appealing. Aside from the three main characters there were a sleuth of supporting monsters that were equally if nor more grotesque and awesome. If by now you are still not so interested in a show about monsters who are attending a scare school, perhaps a character description will sway your opinion.

Ickis -
He is magenta in color with tall pointed ears. He is constantly trying to overcome his fathers shadow over his life, his father being the legendarily scary Sickis. The problem with Ickis’s scare tactics is that his monster capabilities only present themselves when he is mad. Upon being angered he grows to 500% his normal size bearing razor sharp teeth and a intimidating roar. Unfortunately he is a gentle soul and usually ends up being mistaken for a rabbit or a opossum. This of coarse further bearing down on his already twisted psyche.

Oblina -
She has black and white stripes and is in the shape of a candy cane with big red lips. She is definitely the brains of the tri-friendship and the teachers (The Gromble) best student to boot. Her most famous and successful scare tactic is her ability to reach inside herself and pull out her internal organs..AAAHHHH!!!

Krumm -
He is a short harry little fellow with no eye-sockets. NO EYE SOCKETS!?! you say? Well this is easily overcome in his carrying his eyeballs above his head. When he needs to use both his hands he just pops the eyeballs in his mouth...simple! His most effective scare tactic is his unholy god-awful armpit stench which usually presents itself as an accident and gives Krumm a false sense of scare-achievment.


If you have not seen this show you might still be able to catch it on boomerang or one of the numerous Nickelodeon syndication channels. Thank you to all who have read some edition of my blog, I hope you have enjoyed my findings as much as I enjoyed exploring them. G’day!

Comments for POST # 11 (posted on time.just forgot to post on mine...sorry)

Charla--

I have been meaning to watch the show. My 14 year old sister is quite into anime, she mentioned to me that the show was a little crude. Perhaps in the coming weeks ill be able to cath the episode ripping on R. Kelly...



Zeke--

I must agree with Alishas point that the discussion carries on comparing two different goals of animation. However you have a convincing argument and i do not wish to be negative. I think your most engaging point would be the calling to syndication the great series THE TICK. For a solid 30 minuite chuckle at absudity through odd-ball characters, it is second to none. Well perhaps Ahh; Real Monsters...but ill digress. Good blog.

P.S. The tick was created by a 17 year old kid in 1986!

POST # 11: Cartoon Network

When the idea of a network that would air animated series 24 hours a day, im sure there were vast numbers of skeptics that feared its failure. The network is owned by none other than Ted Turner, who if you don't know, is on a slow but hostile plan to take over anything that entertains America. The base for the build up of the show was gradual. In the 1980s the Turner industries acquired the MGM film library granting them ownership of some of the older episodes from Warner Brothers. Later in 1991, they expanded and acquired Yogi bear and Hanna Barbera Productions. This extensive collection of animated classics was enough of a catalyst to begin to air Cartoon Network on October 1, 1992.

Just 4 years after the birth of Cartoon Network an agreement between corporate maggots would forever change the face of the classic cartoon airing station. The widely talked about merge of Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting brought a different goal to the future of Cartoon Network. Instead of delivering the nostalgic cartoons of yesteryear to its audience night in and night out, the network was now focused on creating original material. These new creations arrived in the form of Dexters Laboratory (1996) Johnny Bravo (1997) and the Power Puff Girls (1998) amongst others.

In order to run a successful 24 hour television network you must appeal to an audience that will always toon (haha) in. It was for this reason that Cartoon Network began to block off shows in groups of hours that would hold the attention of their focus audience. Toonami aired in March of 1997 and was to compete with the reigning Disney Afternoon, showcasing action based cartoons for an after school audience. In September of 2001 Adult Swim aired for the first time. This was a new step for the network, never before had they aimed a time slot at a group of people exclusively over the age of 14! By airing programs that are morally pressing at a later hour they have created a kind of cult following to some of their odder shows such as Space Ghost and Family Guy. The newest addition to the Cartoon Network line up is Miguzi. This block is aimed at the on the way home from school got distracted by the basketball court and now i need something to entertain me while i eat dinner kinda kid. The set of shows airs nightly from 5 - 7 and runs shows based on comic books and video games such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pokemon.

Although i cant deny enjoying a number of the programs provided by Cartoon Network, especially their continuos airing of Tom and Jerry. I think a younger audience would be better off playing with a ball and getting sun burnt rather than being stuck inside viewing their favorite block of animated cartoons for the evening.

Comments for Post # 10

RYAN C. McCoy---
I am a history major but am also looking into primary education for my future career. The points you bring up about the youth of today being born with a mouse in their hand and not mistaking it for Mickey is something that teachers in the future will have to account for and use to their advantage. It is refreshing to see popular kids cartoons taking some initiative and encouraging learning. Nickelodeon back in the day used to have commercial breaks where they would remind kids to go outside and play...now we have begun to break from TV to the internet? Future generations will prove just how educationally viable the internet and interactive television relay are.


Sarah Henry---
A DVD collection aye? I was always more of a Simpsons fan than a Bevis and Butthead fan though they are two completely different cartoons. However i must agree with your point that their constant syndication being replaced by fake-ality TV is totally lame. I would much rather watch fictional characters go “huh huh huh uhhhh huh huh “ while watching TV and cursing than a bunch of fumbling idiots on Laguna waste of a time slot or my ridiculously pretentious 16th spoiled brat party. So here's to giving Bevis and Butthead another chance in DVD form and booting the rest of that reality crap off the air...cheers.

Post # 10: Ahhh the Sunday Manga?!?

I grew up with the pleasure of having a sister who is 7 years younger than myself (21). She has always been a fan of cartoons, most notably with the spike in interest for the Pokemon series. It was the first Japanese animated series to be graced with such lucrative success in the American market. Honestly, I never really saw the appeal of the series much less any of its little buddies that were soon to follow putting a serious damper in anyone’s Saturday morning cartoon enjoyment. Since its reign on top, Pokemon has been decreasing its fan base over the last few years. New, more Americanized animations have begun to surface in an attempt to ride the sudden interest in the Japanese styling craze. While I inquire into the strange and unfamiliar world of Anime my sister proceeds to show me her Manga collection. Manga? I had never heard of such a thing.

Manga is the Japanese word for comics or cartoons, outside of Japan it almost always relates to Japanese comics. The style of animation came from a cornucopia of Ukiyo-e and Western styles of drawing. Interestingly it is still common among the American Mangas that you are to read them right to left, keeping true to their original style. Mangas are sometimes adapted into an Anime series that is then dubbed in English.

In Japan mangas are held in quite high esteem, especially in comparison to American comics. It is regarded as a fine art as well as decent literature. There has been a wide range of criticism for the gratuitous amounts of sex and violence that is present in some series. However, there have to date been no regulations put on what can and can not be included in a manga, allowing the artists to take every episode wherever he/she pleases.

It should come to no one as a shock that during our development into the technological age a growing number in the population have stopped reading the newspaper. In a recent poll the average age of the daily newspaper reader has climbed to 53! In an attempt to tip the scales, a number of newspapers have agreed to add two American mangas to their Sunday paper. Among the papers are the Los Angeles Times, the Denver Post, the Vancouver Sun and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
So be on the lookout Charlie Brown and Garfield, some new faces will be joining you the funnies.


http://www.timesdispatch.com

Comments for Post #9

Charla -


I agree the spin off show for matt groening was a suprising success. The setting in New New York City always was good for a chuckle as well as the plethera of odd characters that toured this strange world with Fry. Though i would have to say the funniest part of the show was somewhere around the 2nd season when Ronald Reagans head gave fry some words of encouragement from a glass jar.




Noah -


In the face of nagging songs that get caught in your head and bright tacky blue lights, holiday specials around christmas time are a breath of fresh air. Even the Simpsons pull out a heart felt episode for the holidays. I always thought Nickalodeans egalitarian style of holiday specials were the best idea to serve to their younger audiance. Many of the holiday specials focus on only Christmas but Nickalodean manages to cover Kwanza Chanukah and Christmas all within a 3 hour time slot. So with the time of frosty the snowman and a charlie brown christmas approaching, grab a glass of egg nog huddle by the fire and enjoy the memory of yesteryear with your favorite animated characters.

Post # 9: Doug Funny/Quailman

NO WHERE IN THIS DISCUSSION WILL THERE BE ANY INCLUSION OR RECOGNITION OF THE 3 YEARS OF DOUG RUN BY DISNEY AND AIRED ON ABC FROM 1996-1999! Thanks, Management

Billy West was the voice of Doug Funny, Ren (from Ren and Stimpy) and deliciously the voice of the bee from Honey Nut Cheerios. Dougs character was a complex 11 1/2 year old boy whose family had just moved from Bloatsburg to Bluffington. He soon meets his friends Skeeter, Pattie, Bebe and Connie who show him the way to get along in Bluffington.

The life of Doug is described to the viewer in three ways. First, obviously is in the present, follows him through his daily routine. This usually involving a day at school or with his friends where he attempts to court his little crush Pattie Mayonaise followed by a trip to the Honker Burger or Mr. Swirlys Ice Cream Parlor.

The second way we see the life of our friend Doug is through his imagination. He is a huge comic book fan, and through his interest in comic's he creates his own super hero in a beefed up self image. Quailman is an odd super hero to say the least. He wears a belt on his head and his underwear on the outside! Through Quailman, Doug is able to overcome obstacles in his life such as bullies and girls. He also involves his friend Skeeter and his dog, giving them the titles of Silver Skeeter and Quaildog respectively.

The third and most honest way we see Doug is through his journal writing at the end of each episode. The time he spends writing in his journal is much like everyone else, he reflects on his day and attempts to figure out just what is happening in his life.

Doug was one of the most well rounded shows that Nickelodeon put on the air. If you are not familiar with the show i highly suggest viewing it in syndication when and where available.

COMMENTS FOR POST #8

Charla

Well i have to say im glad i havent missed anything since my leaving x-men behind in the 9th grade. I too was a big fan of the tv series, as well as (shh) maintaining a card collection of all the x-men and their nemisis. The movies that were drawn from the comic were definately entertaining, and as far as im concerned among the best action-super hero movies of all time.

Noah

Bada da dumm dumm dumm, badum badum....alright ill stop trying to write out what music sounds like in my head. Pink Panther is by far the coolest cartoon ever. With his intro rivaling that of shafts for sheer greatness, and his quiet demenor it was a character that was hard not to like. I found a tape over the summer that had not only two pink panther cartoons but a Bugs Bunny special "bugs is bustin out all over" as well as...drum roll please...Fraggle Rock! Thanks for bringing Pink Panther back into the lime light.

POST # 8: Spielbergamation

Steven Spielberg is regarded as one of the greatest movie makers of all time. His imaginative characters have left a lasting impression on all of us. Weather you have a fear of swimming in the ocean from seeing Jaws or wished as a child to have a little alien friend of your own after viewing E.T., Spielberg was there to make your childhood imagination light up on the big screen. As wonderful as all his pictures are it seems to escape people minds that he was the executive producer of a number of wonderful cartoons.

An American Tail (1986); An American Tail: Fivel goes west (1991):
This pair of full length animated films follows the travels of Fievel Mousekawitz as he and his family immigrate to America from Russia the land without cats. Cleverly named ‘Tail’ do to it’s main characters being mice. The Mousekawitz family is fleeing Russia in hopes of being successful in the land of opportunity and finally escaping the evil cats of their motherland. During their settlement they begin to realize the promises of the American Dream might have been a little exaggerated.
This movie was well received by both adults and children alike. Unknowing children found comfort in the silliness of many of the characters in the face of struggle while adults could relate the events of the Mousekawitz family to the struggles of WW2. I attempted to rent this movie to refresh my memory and find links to the history of the story but to my dismay the two local video stores did not carry the title, i was most displeased. I have however found a deal on ebay for the pair and they will be arriving at my doorstep in the coming week. Stat tuned for an update.


The Land Before Time (1988):
This is another great animated picture directed by Spielberg. It is the story of a pack of young dinosaurs who are lost from their families when the earths plates start to shift. The animation in this movie is more aesthetically pleasing than An American Tail. Perhaps the most memorable idea throughout the movie was the focus on the tree star. This 5 tipped leaf held a droplet of water in it that made it shine brighter than the most cherished of diamonds in the eyes of a child. The childlike dino-stars of the movie stumble around and gracefully avoid the perils of the Jurassic era in the end leaving your heart warm and your eyes teary.



On a side note:
With these great titles to his name i think we can all forgive Spielberg for his involvement with Tinytoon Adventures (1990) and the real life remake of The Flinstones (1994), thank you.

COMMENTS FOR POST #7

Noah

I agree pocahontas is a real messy situation when you approach it from Disney. I have a post about Steven Spielberg and in it i include a little synopsis about An American Tail, which is a great narrative for children and adults alike. It details the struggles of immigrants to America from Russia during WWII. By creating a world of mice it was easy to have it appeal to children while allowing adults to extract the history from the film.

________________________________________
Charla

Wallace and Gromit could possibly be the best claymation to hit the big screen. If you have not seen one of them...GO NOW!!

Now that youve gone and seen a few more, for those that enjoyed it i would highly suggest seeing Chicken Run. Directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park (creators of wallace and gromit) it is a silly tale of the trials and tribulations of chickens cooped up in the pin trying to escape before they are surely to become a meal.

POST # 7: Wonder Woman

Oprah might be the most successful woman in the history of our evolution but she most certainly is not most bad ass. Wonder Woman was and still is to this day the most successful cartoon woman. Her powers were a result of her growing up in the Amazon. She possessed super strength, super speed and had the ability to float in the air for brief periods of time.

Her creator was a psychologist by the name of Dr. William Moulton Marston. In 1940 he approached the publisher of DC Comic and explained to him that a world of male dominated super heros we were exhibiting an unbalanced set of values to the comic worlds youthful readers. His idea to fix this was of coarse Wonder Woman. Dr. Marston wrote the stories of his character under the pseudonym Charles Moulton. Wonder Woman's fame has fluctuated though the years. She has stared in a number of comics with other super heroes and was a part of Superfriends (1973) staring Batman, Aquaman and Superman.
I was surprised to discover that nearly 90% of her reading audience was male. Despite her popularity among males she became a symbol of feminism in the 70’s. So popular that she was the cover girl for the debut issue of Ms. Magazine in July 1972.

On a side note: Dr. Marston was an instrumental figure in the creation of the polygraph lie detector test.


A most informative web site:

POST #6 - warner brothers and their speech impediments...

Looney Toons characters are easy to remember for their little quips and mannerisms. From Bugs Bunny’s "ehh what’s up doc" to Wiley Coyotes signs of distress in his constant struggle to capture the Road Runner.
There are other characters that are memorable not so much for what they say, but how they say it. Sylvester the cat and Porky the pig are two distinguished characters that became famous on their speech impediments. Sylvester is characterized by his exaggerated lisp, which is then exaggerated even more by the artists constant focus on a tongue extended from his mouth that flaps with almost every word he utters. Porky the pig is at a much greater disposition with his speech problem. His closing of Looney Tunes with "abdi abdi ba diii that all folks" opened a place for Porky in all our hearts.
Now one must wonder, did the animators at Warner Brothers under Leon Schlesinger sit around during their day poking and prodding at people with disabilities in order to find a few key mannerisms to include with their characters, making them more memorable? Were they such cynical people that they wanted children to question how others perceived their speech impediments? The answer is no. Phew. The creators of our most endearing cartoons were not sadists; they just enjoyed taking shots at the boss. Mel Blanc, the voice of many of the Looney Toons personalities, modeled the voices of Sylvester the Cat and Daffy Duck after Schlesinger himself. Who among his producers, was known for having a lisp.