ThePrequelsSuck
Banned
When it comes to 00s animation, anyone know why 2000-2006 was awesome in the same way the 90s were, but 2006-2009 sucked?
Western Animation |OT| Cartoon, Cartoon, Cartoon
- Thread starter TheGreatDirector
- Start date
Don't think I didn't notice the parallels with Dungeon Train, but let's not pretend that "trapped on a unusual train" is a concept unique to Adventure Time. That being said, it's still a concept that has been explored far less than anything else you mentioned, which are all plot settings that have been used and reused countless times already.
Speedydonut
Member
When it came to CN during 06-09 I remember them not having that many new original shows. All I remember them really having was Chowder, Flapjack, and one of the those Ben 10 sequels. Everything else they were showing at that time were cartoons from Canada and testing that live action stuff.
It was a refractory time for the big three in Western TV Animation (Disney, Nick, and Cartoon Network, as many of them had big new series starting as early as 2004 or 2005 (like Danny Phantom, Avatar, or Foster's Home), but those series did run out in the 06-09 era and the generation that replaced them simply wasn't up to snuff.
06-09 was part of the heyday for Seth MacFarlane though, the height of Family Guy's influence and American Dad starting to come into its own. That was also a pretty good period for Adult Swim with Superjail, the Aqua Teen movie, Boondocks S2, and Frisky Dingo.
Sibersk Esto
Banned
The recession, increasing ad restrictions, Cartoon Network's executive purge, the success of the live action teen sitcom, and the death of Toonami and action cartoons.
That's kinda what makes it feel like a ripoff, the others are basically staples of fiction, but the train thing is very under utilized, so when in recent memory AT does it then comes a show with the same premise, it feels like a ripoff.
I really do wonder what was going through the higher ups' heads during that live action phase. I understand that Nick and Disney were doing well with similar models at the time, but animation was the channel's very backbone (hell, it was IN THEIR NAME). Someone had to have known that there was going to be backlash and confusion.
At least we got Flapjack, Chowder, Camp Lazlo, Ben 10, Batman: The Brave and the Bold and Star Wars: The Clone Wars out of that whole thing.
Plus The Boondocks and Frisky Dingo on the Adult Swim side.
Sibersk Esto
Banned
Basically after Jim Samples left in the wake of the '2007 Boston Mooninite Panic' and Jennifer Davidson died suddenly from illness in the same year, new head honchos Stuart Snyder and Rob Sorcher made the classic mistake of trying to 'broaden demographics' at the expense of the classic audience.
Baron von Loathsome
Member
There was an animated Animal Farm film? Was it good?
All I know is that it apparently ruined the ending.
It is indeed! Good eye. My avatar is from a scene of Yuri Norstein's Tale of Tales, which is not only my favorite animated anything ever, it got me into the entire medium on a more than a surface level basis.
I have an obsession with Russian and Eastern European animation. It's intresting, because it had its roots in trying to copy Disney's sucess, but added it's own culture to make something truly special. Thanks for recommending the short, I really enjoyed it.
It was intresting. As someone else added, they changed the ending to make it more anti communist than the book.There was an animated Animal Farm film? Was it good?
The film is a must see if you're into I'm animation history. It got funding from an number of sources, chiefly the CIA, as an anti communist propoganda film. Due to the very nature of Animal Farm and the aim of the film it ended up being more mature than what Disney put out, and back in 1954 that was a pretty big deal.
If you're going to watch it, keep is history and production in mind, and you'll enjoy it more : )
It wasn't "more anti-communist" so much as while Orwell made Animal Farm into something of a downer ending where the point was to see the revolution come full circle and the pigs become the new humans, the film took it one step further and showed the animals throwing off their new oppressors too.
It would only be properly anti-communist if the animals had then invited the farmer back, now that they'd learned their place. It was more designed to encourage more events like the attempted counterrevolution in Hungary.
It would only be properly anti-communist if the animals had then invited the farmer back, now that they'd learned their place. It was more designed to encourage more events like the attempted counterrevolution in Hungary.
Right, since the new opressors were representing Stallanists, it would make sense that the film would want them to be overthrown. I don't think anyone wanted to go back to the Tzsar's of Russia.
TheGreatDirector
Banned
Wasn't that around the time the writer's strike?
I've been wandering YouTube a little bit and have been finding old 80's animation films lost to time. Stuff like Fire and Ice, Rock and Rule, and Wizards, all of which I'd never heard of before. I'm going to have to take the time to watch them.
Ahhh, Rock & Rule. That gloriously weird 80's musical.
I remember finding the trailer on Youtube, not knowing what the hell it was but getting drawn in by how dark and cheesy it looked. See for yourselves.
I did eventually see the movie for myself, and I remember having some mixed feelings but generally enjoying it. Like putting Rocky Horror, The Secret of NIMH and a bunch of rock and punk albums in a blender. With extra Earth, Wind & Fire.
Two of the things you listed were Ralph Bakshi works, and the third a Canadian American production.
Along with what you listed, I'd highly reeccomend American Pop, which I think is Bakshi's best work, and Heavy Metal, which is awesome. 70's/80's animated films, particularly adult animated films, were super wierd and awesome.
ProtomanNeo
Member
Was always a fan of the The Hobbit growing up. Rankin / Bass churned out some great stuff and there rotoscope work was legendary.
So I just binged Steven Universe and am now all caught up. I also binged Gravity Falls and man between both these amazing shows I went through an emotional roller coaster. I guess Adventure Time is next on my list, I've only seen like 3 episodes but I enjoyed what I've seen.
Also after Gravity Falls I caught up on Star Vs The Forces of evil and Its been going above my expectations. Disney has some great cartoons, Is wonder over yonder worth seeking out? I hear good things but mainly hear about it being tragically scrapped. Is It worth watching what remains of it?
Also after Gravity Falls I caught up on Star Vs The Forces of evil and Its been going above my expectations. Disney has some great cartoons, Is wonder over yonder worth seeking out? I hear good things but mainly hear about it being tragically scrapped. Is It worth watching what remains of it?
Choppasmith
Member
It's a beautifully animated show with some great episodes. Season 1 episodes are primarily standalone, with Season 2 introducing a bigger villain in an attempt to set up a story arc which I feel just wasn't that great. Despite that, the vivid visuals really shine more in the second season.
MrCunningham
Member
TMS Entertainment animated Feat of Clay part 2 in Japan, while Feat of Clay part 1 was animated by a lesser studio in South Korea. You could definitely see the difference in quality between episode 1 and 2.
I find Robert Crumb to be a very petty individual (and, as a professional artist, I never cared much for his body of work and fail to see how he had such a strong influence), but that film had an interesting production history. If you can find a copy of "Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi", it has a chapter that covers that films production history and how Crumb lend one of his sketchbooks to Ralph for reference.
Anyway, Crumb pretty much hating the movie, & he went out of his way to threaten to disassociate himself from any cartoonist that worked with Bakshi. He even went as far to create a mini-comic (the last time Crumb used the character) that showcases the character becoming a stuck-up, arrogant Hollywood actor (along with taking nasty pot-shots at a Steven Krantz & Ralph Bakshi-look alikes). Frtiz unceremoniously died when an ex-girlfriend stabbed him repeatedly in the back of the neck with an ice pick.
Well, that doesn't sound petty as hell at all.
Funny enough, I ended up rediscovering Ralph Bakshi at the same time that I discovered Rock & Rule. Much of his work was a product of their time, but weirdly, I couldn't help but not look away. I've heard his Lord of the Rings adaptation was pretty good (though incomplete).
Animation gets better however Season 2 has been a drag to me, it trys and creates a bigger overarching story\villain but in the process lost alot of its humor and *fun*.
They fucking did it.
Um...holy shit.
I think this show is elevating to SpongeBob Seasons 1-3 levels of good.
I could move my reviews for the episodes here if you guys want me to. I still have a week or two worth of episodes to give my thoughts on.
A time-honored western animation tradition.
SigmasonicX
Member
What is that show?
Baron von Loathsome
Member
The Loud House. New Nicktoon created by Chris Savino.
That fucking comic has taken on a life of its own.They fucking did it.
TheGreatDirector
Banned
Yeah, the other thread I made is kinda dead besides you. It might be best to generally start getting cartoon episode reviews in here like the Anime Community OTs.
Oh my.
Crossing Eden
Hello, my name is Yves Guillemot, Vivendi S.A.'s Employee of the Month!
Chuck Jones is amazing. That little tribute Cartoon Network did in the wake of his death still gets to me.
I don't get it. What's lewd here?
If you look deeply into it shes showing him her pussy.
The show adopts the look of newspaper comic strips for its title cards and backgrounds.
Yeah, the show is made by a bunch of 90's cartoon alumni. It's leagues better than I expected, & is the only reason I give a shit about Nick these days (besides TMNT, which goes without saying).
I'd actually love to see this being made into a show, they'd just need to dial back a little on the Adventure Time-esque random internet humor which is freaking everywhere these days
With cartoon networks top shows starting to end in a season or two would love for them to make this a series.
TheGreatDirector
Banned
So today coincidentally happens to be Justice League: The Animated Series' 15th anniversary as well as American Tail's 30th anniversary.
Apparently the show got insanely good ratings. It's currently on the start of its second season.
You know I was actually at the Nickolodeon studios when they premiered a new episode of that show. We did catering for them.
They all came out to the table, bought our food and gathered around the TV placed in the cafeteria as the entire staff sat down and watched the show they just finished air on TV.
They were like a bunch of kids watching their favorite cartoon show, they laughed like maniacs when one of their favorite gags showed up, and pointed out all the stuff they slipped in on the backgrounds. It was really neat to watch how genuinely excited they were. They All clapped and congratulated each other afterward.
Hope the show does good from them.
I' m so happy that Chris & Kyle have been given their big breaks. This show & Mighty Magiswords are absolute gems.They fucking did it.
Finally a thread where I can geek out.
From the Chuck Jones cartoon "Beanstalk Bunny", here's one of my favorite scenes, animated by Abe Levitow.
Beautiful stuff. Great siliouettes & poses, as well.
Well, that doesn't sound petty as hell at all.
Funny enough, I ended up rediscovering Ralph Bakshi at the same time that I discovered Rock & Rule. Much of his work was a product of their time, but weirdly, I couldn't help but look away. I've heard his Lord of the Rings adaptation was pretty good (though incomplete).
I think Heavy Traffic is his best movie (it is in my book), though I do have a soft spot for Fire & Ice, even if that movie is more of a big, fat (bottom) love letter to Frank Frazetta's fantasy work. It's honestly more Frank's movie than Ralph's.
Sibersk Esto
Banned
WB with the curbstomp
Although the recent Paul Rudish Mickey cartoons have been better than WB's lackluster output.