Organization: Penn State University
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 1992 13:24:08 EDT
From: <DCA105@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.animation
Subject: Re: best current toons
Distribution: rec

Derrick Rowlandson (derrick@cs.athabascau.ca) writes:

[wants opinions on best animation]

> I mean best in terms of:
> 1. Funniness
> 2. Animation Quality

Is is somewhere carved in stone that an animated program has to be funny to be
good?  I have seen a lot of good animation that is not funny.  Since I am now
in college (3rd year) and still watchy a lot of animated programming, I do not
want to be constantly force-fed 'sugar-coated, mindless garbage' that the
'powers-that-be' think we should watch.  Also, it disturbs me that the
producers of animation seem to think that only children 9 + under watch
cartoons.  In my opinion, the best animation to come out in America in the last
few years is the stuff by Disney.  Both in terms of PLOT (much more important
than the laugh factor) and animation quality.  'Ducktales' is a very well-
written program (until the intro (and subsequent monopolization) of Gizmoduck)
I also think that 'Talespin' is one of the best cartoons on, and I was VERY
disappointed when the 'Gummi Bears' was cancelled.  That was my favorite show
while it was on.  BTW, I am not a Disney nut, I do not like the early stuff,
or the movies, but like I said--It appeals to 10-year-olds, and I'm twice that
age.  Don't get me wrong, I think 'Tiny-Toons' is OK, I even watch it sometimes
but I would not call it good, let alone great.

What has upset me the most is the direction that animation is taking in America
I enjoy more sci-fi-robot-violence a la Terminator and it just ain't there.  I
watched shows like 'Battle of the Planets' (70s), 'Star Blazers' (early 80s),
'Transformers' (80s), and 'Robotech' (mid 80s)  These were shows that had
action, adventure, and violence (real violence, not Barnyard Animal #1 hitting
Barnyard Animal #2 on the head with a frying pan/shovel/pie-in-the-face/etc.)
Now what is there : Super Mario, the Hammerman, Where's Waldo?, and the biggest
piece of merchandising garbage TMNT (BTW, I loved TMNT when it first came out--
the original 5-episode story--but since they started marketing everything from
TMNT toys to TMNT toothpaste to TMNT cereal, I despise it.)

THE RESULT OF ALL THIS...

The result of this shift from quality shows to 1/2-hour toy commercials?  Now I
watch a lot of Japanese animation, often in Japanese w/ subtitles.  Sounds a
bit extrreme, eh?  Well, it's the price you pay to watch a cartoon and not need
to wonder if Bob the Cat will see Joe the mouse ready to drop a bowling ball on
his head.  Anyway, if you're into sci-fi, robots, superheroes, nudity, violence
, excellent animation, good plots, and lots of action, check out some ANIME (at
your local comic shop) and see if it's the stuff for you.

PS. Ren'n'Stimpy is an EXCELLENT show because it goes against the STANDARD US
cartoon shows and is at times innovative, even when they're rehashing old 50's
and 60's programs' scripts.  Kudos to John Kricfalusi on an excellent program.

PPS. Read rec.arts.anime more often, you just may like it.

Dave
Newsgroups: rec.arts.animation