Sweet. I love Bebop. Unfortunately, when Ghost II came out on the big screen down here, I missed it. So, I'll have to get it on the DVD.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Posted on 12/09/2004 10:24:12 PM PST by Simmy2.5
American animation still has its place. IMO, the only reason why they are slowly being pushed aside by Japanese anime is because American animated movies and cartoons no longer have the great stories they used to tell. This IMO, is due to Disneys (which dominated the format before anime and is when the idea that cartoons are a 'kids' thing) basically abandoning the format, and what they are pushing on us is crap (you can even argue it's due to liberalism [especially if you look at the themes of the cartoons they now produce [Pocohantas for example]). Pixar might be the exception, but as you know, Pixar is not a part of Disney. And despite what some people say, it isn't because of the animation style. "The Incredibles", with its great story, would've worked whether it was hand drawn or CGI. As for Pixar, once Cars is out, they will leave Disney. Many animators left Disney because of the change of direction there.
Another interesting thing to note, some of the few animated American series I love, are anime influenced. "Teen Titans" (yets, kids show. But an intelligent kids show) has many obvious anime influenced design. Also true for "Totally Spies" (umm...hehe. Yeah, I like this series too. Don't ask why).
You may like some of the Tezuka shorts. He created Astro Boy (first as a comic book) but in his later years he was experimenting with different styles.
His shorts toured the animation short festivals (back when Spike & Mike were funny rather than pushing bad taste).
I like all sorts of animation. Right now I'm more geared for the Rocky & Bullwinkle boxed sets, Private Snafu's collected shorts, and Disney's Victory Through Air Power.
Yep. I love it.
Cartoonish? I wouldn't say so. Its style of animation is different from most anime I suppose. A bit... brighter, more fluid, I guess.
No big deal though. It's a movie that I don't expect people to like quite as much as I do. It just gets to me on some deep down, personal level. I love the story, the moral ambiguity of the whole situation, the characters, etc. I just love the movie.
And you're right about "Fireflies". Pretty gutsy film when you think about it. I bet even most Japanese filmmakers wouldn't want to tackle that story as an animation. It would NEVER get made in Hollywood. Even if Hollywood started making anime style films, they wouldn't make a "Grave of the Fireflies".
And it's true, American cartoons are taking on anime aspects. The eyes are most notable.
The DC-Warner Bros. superhero cartoons also modeled themselves off the 1940s Fleischer Superman cartoons.
"Taking on Japanese stylings"?
Little animation has been done in America for decades. Even Japan farms it out now.
Easier on the art team. Lousy for a viewer seeking some variety.
Or maybe the 60s:
Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer
he's a demon on wheels
And Kimba the White Lion!
No studio wants to tell an animated story these days if it is not a "musical". Feh. MOR adult pap songs or retro videos for 70s hits.
And what exactly is wrong with tentacle monsters having sex on the mind? Maybe if those schoolgirls didn't wear such cute outfits, there wouldn't be such a problem.
Well, I don't think there has been an animated musical since Disney abandoned that style a few years ago. It's all about 3-D now. Disney even closed down their 2-D film studios.
FWIW, the Australian DVD of Akira contains BOTH studios' English dub soundtracks.
Australia tries to throw a little something extra to the market since they are generally last to release a title.
Shrek has musical interludes, whether the characters sing or they are a video to an existing song.
Really? You meet the most interesting people on FR. :)
I never actually read it...but I too loved the show as a kid. That and the Transformers.
Who would have thought the grandchild of a WWII pacific vet would be cheering on the Yamamato?!?
Oh, and you guys prompted me to add Star Blazers to my netflix rental list.
I hope I like it as much as an adult as I did as a child.
Ahh, I see what you mean.
I'm one of those "purists". I prefer my anime in subbed and not dubbed. Although they have done okay on some of them. It's difficult to ruin Rorouni Kenshin and Inuyasha is okay but much better in the original.
And yes... I am one of those who despised Funimation's ruination of Dragonball Z.
Sweet. I love Bebop. Unfortunately, when Ghost II came out on the big screen down here, I missed it. So, I'll have to get it on the DVD.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
A very good friend of mine in Tokyo did the translation job on this flick . How'd he do ?
Sushi
Robotech...
Anyone know where I can get a Veritech fighter or two? ;)
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