History of Animation

blog 12

2005-11-30T21:00:00.000-08:00

I don't really know what it is with me and MTV cartoons lately. They seem to be resurfacing in my life lately. Daria, however, is perhaps one of the greatest cartoons ever created. More than just entertainment, Daria provides a fresh, realistic look at high school life. She is considered a "brain" by her peers, meaning that she falls into the qualification of being highly intelligent, unfashionably dressed. She is a cynical teenage girl who is portrayed as an icon of sanity in an insane household, with her vacuous, fashion-obsessed sister Quinn and career-obsessed parents Helen and Jake. They so desperately want her to be a more animated person with popularity and friends, while her sister wants nothing to do with her, calling Daria her "cousin" in public. Jane is Daria's best friend and is the other "outcast" at school. Jane is the artist type and has a slightly more eccentric peronality when compared to Daria's. Trent is Janes older brother and aspiring musician who heads a band called Mystic Spiral-but they are changing their name soon. Daria had the deepest crush on him. At school, both Daria and Jane are surrounded by a generic cast of usual high school students: the dumb cheerleader, the jock, the over achieving honor student, the cliques, the goth girl and the overly creepy guy. Much of what makes the show so effusively memorable is a Daria's droll, monotone voice which accentuates her sharp, witty comments. But when it comes down to it, Daria outer sarcasm often yields to a softer, empathetically side. It is a truly amazing show because of the ways that Daria overcomes everyday situations and makes it entertaining to watch.

blog 11

2005-11-30T12:45:00.000-08:00

Think about it, how many cartoon characters did you see today? Recap: my breakfast cereal (yes, because I still eat Count Chocula) numerous TV citings-like cartoons used for advertising, cartoon shows, and even cartoons adverstisng for cartoon shows!!! Ok, so go to class now. Even just walking around school how many people are wearing cartoons on their tshirts, backpacks or even accessories? It seems that the latest thing to do is to take cartoon characters and draw them in glitter and slap them on a tshirt. Not my thing, but hey, you gotta rock your own style. Seems like every where you go, cartoons are there to bring excitement and interest into what could be a pretty dull life sometimes. Just seeing their quirky, over exaggerated personalities can make anything better. Commercials and advertisements containing cartoons are often better peceived by the public and have more of a tendency to stick in your mind. Even t-shirts with some of our favorite characters from childhood like Scooby Doo or Strawberry Shortcake are being brought back to stir up that nostalgia. It is this desire to recapture nostalgia that makes us want to buy these products bearing cartoons. While some may be against cartoons, calling them childish or mindless, I will continue to cling to them and be wooed as they are used in everyday add campaigned.

Blog 10

2005-11-09T20:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, am I really up to Blog 10 already? What else could there to possibly be to write about??!! (ha ha I just joke, professor P... Don't start yelling at me yet).
Isn't it great when you finally find a cartoon of such pure genius that you could watch them over and over again? And doesn't it suck when they get ripped off the air for some reality TV crap??!! Well, fear not MTV viewers, Beavis and Butt Head are back. Yes, they have finally been relaxed to DVD for people who love stupid humor every where. I, of course already have my copy.
for those of you with a slightly more refined background, the is a TV show about two adolescents guys named Beavis and Butthead. They are truly a pair meant for each other. Beavis and Butt-head's lives revolve around three simple things. (1) Barely attending school, which mainly consists of making fun of their hippy teacher, giving the principal ulcers and driving the gym teacher nuts(2) Trying to score with chicks, regarless of how many times they are kicked , hit or run over for it. (3) Watching TV. Lots of TV. If something in the real world doesn't relate to what they know from TV, it sucks. They especially enjoy "reviewing" music videos - or just commenting inanely on them. If a video contains heavy rock, scantily-clad babes or anti-authority figures, it's cool - otherwise, it sucks.
It could be the funny way they laugh or just the stupid humor that I love about that show, but it will always amuse me to no end. Thank goodness for that immature person in me that will still allow me to enjoy the guilty pleasure of Beavis and Buttehead.

blog 9

2005-11-02T19:40:00.000-08:00

I love Halloween. It's probably one of my favorite holidays. I mean, what's not too love: goofy costumes, pumpkin carving, parties and more candy than I know what to do with. another great thing about Halloween is the cartoon specials. lets review how i spent my cartoon watching time:
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy is probably one of my favorite current cartoons. Of course, what better on all hallows eve than a little bit of some grim reaper humor. If you don't know the cartoon, let me give you a bit of some background info. When the Grim Reaper shows up to take the soul of Billy's aging hamster, Billy's friend Mandy refuses to turn the animal over. Instead, she challenges the skeletal figure: they will play a game and if she and Billy lose, Grim gets the hamster (and incidentally, Billy as well). But if she wins, they get to keep the hamster. Considering his victory inevitable, Grim tells Mandy that he will be their best friend forever if he loses. And lose he does, because it turns out that Mandy is ever so much better at cheating than Grim is. and that is where it all started. from then on Grim is mandy's.

Mandy, a tough going angsty yet cute blonde girl who doesn't take it from anybody.
Billy is her neighbor who is dumber than a rock, but provides a nice idiot humor contrast to Mandy's over sarcastic self
Grim is the reaper himself, Jamacan accent and all
Mix these and some other minor characters togethre and hilarity ensues. Its so mindlessly funny, but every now and then they stick you with some humor that requires some intelect to enjoy it.

So they have a halloween special that goes somethign liek this. While out trick-or-treating, Grim tells Billy and Mandy the story of a power hungry practical jokester named Jack O’Lantern, voiced by Wayne Knight. Grim tells how Jack managed to escape death, but at the cost of losing his noggin. Dressed as the Grim Reaper and armed with Grim’s real scythe, dim-witted Billy stumbles upon Jack O’Lantern’s doorstep Halloween night. Jack manages to steal Grim’s scythe, hoping to use its power to seek his revenge. It’s up to Mandy to come up with a scheme to save the entire universe and before Jack tries to take Grim’s neck. Of course, the day is saved and the spirits are defeated by laughing to death.

blog 8

2005-10-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

Once again, great moments in history are summed up through animation. World War II was a time of great distress for our nation, and cartoons helped to alleviate this. With the aid of Walt Disney and Warner Brothers studios, cartoons were made for both soldiers and civilians.

Civilians and soldiers were watched humorous shorts about Donald Duck joining the armed forces with his dreams of flying a plane. He is inticed not only by the aspect of flying, but also by the advertisements of soldiers with sexy women. However, nothing is what it seems in the ads. Donald is a misfit in the army. From a botched medical exam to spastic episodes with his gun. He eventually gets demoted to the potato peeling gully. He also starred in the propaganda film "Der Fuehrer's Face". this was about life in Nazi Germany or also known as Nutzi Land. He is a factory worker forced into hard labor and constant saluting. He awakes to find this it has only been a horrible dream and he embraces his statue of Lady Liberty in his excessivly patriotic room.

Private Snafu was another popular cartoon about a foul up private in the armed forces. This was used to inform the troops about everything from malaria to espionage. This was a more educational cartoon on what NOT to do. Snafu was created by Chuck Jones and voiced by Mel Blanc who was also the voice of Bugs Bunny. His voice allowed for a recognizable icon even in a foreign land. Also, just as an interesting side note, snafu is a military acronym for Situation Normal: All Fouled Up. The soldiers were given instructional videos to help amuse themselves and to provide information on cautionary actions while in combat.
So, once again cartoons are used as a source of not only entertainment, but also as a method of propaganda and education.

blog 7

2005-10-19T12:49:00.000-07:00

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves is a great movie because it really brings me back to my childhood. I remember when I wanted to be a princess just like Snow White. It sounds so cheesy, but I think that most little girls wanted to be SOME Disney princess at one point. Snow White was one of my favorites because she had this uncanny communication with animals. She was kind, graceful, pure hearted and just loveable. Her songs that she sang were so syrupy sweet that I couldn't help but belt them out on the playground as a child. Yah, she had her prince, but he was only a small part in the wonder that made up Snow White. The animals are so lovingly animated also that it added to the overally sweetness of the movie. I mean, who wouldn't love for a quirrel to do your dishes every night. It was so creative to see the expressions of the animals as they convey human emotions. The dwarves of course were also cartoony and had cartoonish proportions. they all had appearences appropriate to their names and personas. the overall move is so cute and wonderfully animated for it being done only in 1937. Its truly amazing how far (or not so far) Disney has come with their animation style.

blog 6

2005-10-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

My apologies to any one who reads this blog; I have been neglecting it for the sheer lack of anything to write about. I finally found my muse today at the pumpkin patch. This is one of my favorite times of year for many reasons. Take for instance, Halloween, pumpkins (and any pumpkin by product be it pie, pumpkin spice coffee, pumpkin ale, the list goes on and on), fall leaves, my birthday (it's November 6th people, get ready!!) and It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.
Where would we be without the great holiday classics of Charles M. Schultz's Peanuts. This was his third animated feature created in 1966. It is an annual event on ABC to show this classic. While His movies have become a tradition for many people to watch around such important holidays as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, it is interesting to look deeper into the meaning of each one.
In each Charlie Brown feature, he seems to be the most miserable kid that I have ever seen. His life is bombarded by one let down after another. From a botched costume to unsuccessful trick-or-treating, he just can't seem to get a break. Of course, being in love with to the blanket toting boy, Linus, Sally stakes out the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. After waiting for hours, they think that the Great Pumpkin is upon them, but it turns out only to be a silhouette of Snoopy. Sally then has a fit, having just missed a night of Halloween fun to wait for the great pumkins arrival.
Perhaps one of the best parts about the Peanuts Holiday specials is Snoopy. Without that dog, these movies might have taken a sad tour down boring street. Snoopy adds the bit of comedic humor that keeps you from wanting to think that Charlie Brown was the most pathetic kid. Snoopy takes the satyrical role of a WWII fighter pilot while using his red dog house as his fighter plane. He goes on his adventures after being shot down in the french country side. Snoopy also gives us the cute voice of his when he is laughing at charlie or crying to Schroder's piano playing. He is the cornerstone of Peanuts.
The animation style, while crewd and primitive when compared to today's standards, has a charm to it that cannot be replaced. even Charlie Brown with his two hairs gives us an intersting look at how Schultz used exageration to create his characters. It just goes to show that you don't always need the latest CG graphics to create a beloved and timeless piece of animation.

"I got a rock."

blog 5

2005-10-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

Betty Boop was a girl with her own attitude and ideas. She was finally a female character who dared to have fun, be flirtatious and sexy. Betty was the embodiment of the free spirited flapper girl who loved the audience. Along with Bimbo the umm...dog...thing, and Koko the soul singing clown, they were set to dazzle audiences everywhere. The episodes were like music videos of the time, featuring big names in jazz music. It seemed like everything came to life in her animations. All objects, including the inanimate ones swayed along with the music or morbid into something else. It was a very lively cartoon with mass sex appeal.

Popeye on the other hand was supposed to be seen as the not so rough and rugged sailor guy. He was kind of a funny looking wimpy guy until he ate his spinach, at which point he became a funny looking guy with freaky strength. Was it just me, or did he mumble a lot? Perhaps Popeye was a little skitzo. What was with his girlfriend, Olive as well? Was she held together with a spaghetti noodle? The way she flops around and constantly needs rescuing is slightly disturbing. Does any one else find it ironic that GIRLFRIEND Olive has a baby that looks identical to Popeye? That must have raised a few eyebrows for viewers.
So, to say the least, the older cartoons went by a whole nother set of standards than today's cartoons, but when set to the context of today, it is very amusing.

Blog Comment Posts

2005-09-29T19:31:00.000-07:00

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blog 4

2005-09-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

I saw Tim Burton's new move "The Corpse Bride" the other night, and it was truly fantastic. I really liked his style of claymation with stop animation. It's interesting how this movie so conveniently ties into us just discussing Lotte Reiniger's "The Adventures of Prince Akmed". When "Akmed" is compared to "The Corpse Bride", there are startling similaries, at least in technique. Each figure must be positioned, then shot serveral times to make even the smallest scene. Each requires fluidity in their character's movements to make them believable. Lotte used intricately cut, one dimensional jointed paper dolls to set her scenes, while Burton uses three dimensional clay figures. Both have their upsides and downfalls as far as working with them, but both prove to be effective mediums of conveying a story told throughout these intimate objects. The emotions that are present in "Prince Akmed" are so apparent that you do not even need English subtitles to understand what is going on. However, Burton has the advantage of facial expressions with his characters, so it is easier to read a character's looks. Perhaps another reason that Lotte's film is so successful for its' time is that, with the exception of the score behind it, it is a silent film. Being just that, you do not necessarily need facial expressions as much for the characters. But, both Lotte and Burton have the ability to exaggerate their characters to fit each one's individual personality. Burton often plays on the stereotype look of certain people and then exaggerates it, creating very cartoonist charaters. this helps to empahise their role in the film. For example, the main character is a meager man who is soft spoken. He has a very delicate face, waif-like body frame, dark hair and dark eyes. However, his parents, lowly but wealthy fish market dealers are perceived as one being very stout and plump and the other being a warn business man with a thick mustache and haunched over. Lotte's use of exaggeration in her characters can be best seen in the bad guy. He has long, skeletal fingers with sharp nails and a large, crooked nose; he is all hard angles. Her good characters have elongated bodies to emlphasise their graceful movements, and have soft, curved features. Background and color schemes are important to the overall tone of a movie as well. Lotte did not need color to convey a mood. She usually stuck to her grey scaled backgrounds to complement her black silhouettes, except for American audiences in "Jack and the Beanstock". Burton begins by using as many monochromatic washed out colors as possible in the first part of his movie to convey the stiffness of England in the mid 1800's. This is seen not only in his backgrounds, but in the very characters themselves. He uses garish colors and high contrasts when he protrays the land of the dead to show how much more fun a place it is with its wild characters. It is fantastic to be able to put a much older movie and a brand new movie together and see the similarities that they share, and compare the differences that set them apart.

blog 3

2005-09-18T20:25:00.000-07:00

zombie me
Well, for Matt's sake and every one else's who reads my blog, I will attempt to make this one more interesting. I wanted to talk about the importance of comic books and their influence on animation. This is partially spurred on by my recent attendance of the Baltimore Comic Convention. (yes, It was a lot of fun.) Anyways, Comics are almost as old as animation itself. It's amazing how much animation and comics coincide. One is often taken from the other and vise versa. Take for example, Batman; popular as a comic and equally popular as an animated TV show. There are of course different aspects that one has that the other does not offer, but this is what makes both desirable. I find this especially true in Japanese comics and animations. Most animes* are based off of a manga**. It often closely follows the original story line of the manga, but it is then put forth in the dramatic style of anime. Perhaps one of the most interesting things about Japanese animation is their use of intense plots. I recently finished watching the series Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, which is a great example of individual complex plot lines with a brilliant underlying story line. You are led along durring the show through a series of small plots with one underlying main plot. You do not realize the main plot until you watch further into the series and then put the peices together. The animation style is also a mixture of computer graphics, and traditional pen and ink. The two different styles blend together so seamlessly that it truly gives it a futuristic feel that the show is set in. I found that it was a tantalizing show full of creative animation and fantastic plot usage, and like the above mentioned, it came from a comic book origin as well.

*for those non dorks out there, this is the cartoon animation
** this is the comic book story

blog 2

2005-09-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

The revolutionaries of animation were truly geniuses in their own right. They allowed people to see pictures in motion throughout the help of devices like the zoetrope and the thramatrope. Emile Reynaud, a French mechanics shop apprentice, built a device known as a praxinoscope, and Eadweard Muybridge, a British photographer, invented the zoopraxiscope to animate his series of still photographs. Getting more advanced, people could now view short movies with a device called the kinetoscope by Thomas Edison. These became known as "peep shows", due to the fact that only one person could look through them at a time. Stop action became popular through the first animated film, "Humorous Phases of Funny Faces" by James Stuart Blackstone. The French brothers, Augustine and Luise Lumier later improved on this concept and began making their own "home" movies that many people could watch as an audience. They depicted everyday French life, and even added some slap stick humor. French Audiences were thrilled. Georges Melies was a French movie director and all around cinematic guy. He added many different elements elements to his pieces, including; animation, layering, and special effects which included a lot of magician smoke. These movies, such as "Trip to the Moon" were fantastic stories of a mix very early science fiction, action, and even had the sex appeal of women in hot pants. They were also the first to really include a story line into their movies. These huge break throughs in animation lead to more and more advanced techniques, but we would have never gotten there without these great firsts.

intro to History of Animation

2005-09-05T23:03:00.000-07:00

So, History of Animation. It sounds pretty formal, but broken down, its not so uppity. Maybe it is the fact that it has the word "history" in it. That has never been a really fun word, but the word "animation" redeems it, because i then think of saturday morning cartoons as a child. Its funny how Animation affects our lives. It seems like history could be summed up through animation, for me at least. When i think back to my personal history, I can associate things like, He-man and the masters of the Universe, or my little ponies all the way up through sponge bob square pants. This would be my history of 1983-today. Like many other people out there, I do like anime. Its a guilty pleasure for me. I will come right out with you today; I am a dork (but in disguse). The mass explosion of anime has created a whole underground (or now more mainstream) animation genrea. To me, certain anime titles can be as powerful and emotionally moving as though they are really happening. I think that Japanese anime creators are especially good at evoking emotion through you by their characters and story line. They really bring you right there to feel what that character is feeling. A really good one can bring me to tears or make me feel the happiness of a character. Yah I know, it sounds really cheesy, but most of us have known these feelings from a movie or a really touching TV show. Well, it is increadibly hard to sum up animation in one blog, but I hope that I have given you a little insite on how interesting it really is. Well, I am looking forward to more of the history of animation.