Hard Candy Christmas - Henchmen 21 and 24

Christmas is drawing nigh and therefore time for me to unleash some holiday themed wisdom upon those who stumble into my blog.

One of my favourite things about animation is when the writers leave little breadcrumbs of their personality in the script. Are they reaching out to their audience looking for likeminded souls? Or exhaustedly regurgitating every last fleck of their imagination onto the page. Either way, it makes lonely losers like me believe that on some level, I connect with these artists.

A classic example is musical preference- almost all voice actors love the sound of their own voice- therefore love singing- and therefore love music. Why else would they choose a career where they can  put headphones on and slip into a voice tracked-coma-reel of madness inside their own heads?

We all remember this exhaustingly long musical number (P.S- I still loved it)

Venture Bros is one of those awesome shows with an open appreciation for music. One example is how David Bowie, voiced by James Urbaniak, is a reoccurring as the sovereign of the Guild of Calamitous Intent. (Iggy Pop is also a member of the guild, albeit slightly less awesome). (Also there was one episode themed around Space Oddity)

Another example is this!

BAM

Possibly the single greatest cartoon musical holiday moment of all time. (I'm talking to you Schroeder, you stripe-shirted hack). (But seriously, no hard feelings.)

I thought I had seen every known episode of Venture Bros. (Save the finale of the last season).

That includes the Christmas special as well as the pilot. But for some reason, I don't remember watching this at all, and stumbled into this recording on the internet. And it's way too awesome to be fake.

Apparently at some vanished point on the timeline, Henchmen 21 and 24 went to visit The Monarch in jail. It was Christmas, there was a guitar on hand, and they all sang Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas.

Nothing can explain why Dolly Parton's Hard Candy Christmas has always been one of my favourite carols, despite its lack of festiveness, its country flair and its lack of popularity in the general Christmas cannon. But every year early December, I sure as hell lock myself in my car for three or four loops of this sucker.

So let's take some time this holiday season, to remember that this happened.

Oh yeah, I guess you can enjoy the actual recording too.

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas does a rendition too 

Communication in Animation

For everyone who doesn't know, my education is in Rhetoric and Communications. I'm a Creative Communications grad, with a major in Media Production, and my diploma is joined with a four year Communications degree from the University of Winnipeg.

Since my University courses foolishly pertain nothing to animation, I have to find sneaky ways to inject animation into the way I procure my degree.

For two of my final courses, I had such "opportunities" to cram a square animation peg into a very round rhetorical hole- or a sphere if you will (rhetoricians like spheres)- so if we put them both of the same plane of dimension, one could say that I crammed a cube, or perhaps a rectangular prism, into a sphere of equal volume...

This series of spacial mathematical fails is why I studied Rhetoric and not Geometry.

Anyway, the sneakiness breaks down as follows:

Rhetoric in the Public Sphere Class

Assignment: Write a 10 page essay of sorts about something in the public sphere.

Conflict in Communication Class

Assignment: Do a creative project/presentation about how communication occurs in basically anything.

For the former, I wrote a lengthly essay on Disney as Epideictic Performance in the Public sphere- a long winded analysis featuring mostly Hauser (a rhetorical theorist) and Hiroux (a guy who writes numerous books and papers about how Disney is evil.)

Now don't get me wrong- I very much enjoy Disney-, pretty much all of their animations are musicals, voiced by celebrities, and super gorgeous- there's a lot to like. I do however, believe that its massive influence allows it to shape the identities and desires of children,  allows it to build consumerism into the list of ideals they teach to children, and even allows it to sell the concept of childhood innocence as a product in the form of the children reared by other Disney products. (Hopefully this makes more sense in my essay than it does here, or I'm looking at a pretty steep fail)

How much of this was intentional and how much was an accident- we'll never know.

Maybe I'll do another blog post about the topic and include my lengthly and boring essay.

The latter class project however, resulted in a fun little video. I admit it's not my best work, since most of the clips are artifacty rippings from YouTube, boomed over by my too-close-to-the-mic dronings, but  I had very limited time, I still got an A, and it was fun to make. Another awesome thing about the animation, was that after I wrote a ten page Disney-diss, I still wasn't above using Disney's Fantasia, as the backbone for this video project.

So although I'm not putting it in my demo reel, I will leave it here for a little blog exclusive.
By the way- I forgot to mention this to my class, but some parts might be considered graphic.

This video also features a stolen clip from one of my all time favourite animations:
Who I am and What I Want- an awesome film by Chris Shepherd and David Shrigley.
I first encountered it taking Fine Art at the University of Manitoba.

Now keep in mind, this video is actually pretty graphic- for how super minimalist the style is, and it gets quite a bit of negative feedback from people that don't understand it. But damn is it awesome.

Passable Cartoons on Family Channel Again? Gravity Falls is Surprisingly Awesome

Wow. Is Family Channel starting to air relatively acceptable programming again?  I thought quirky kid shows like The Weekenders were gone for good in favour of the self-perpetuating-sanitized-child-celebrity-machine telling us that tank top over long sleeved shirt wearing Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato were "so right now" before we even knew who they were.

(Not that I wouldn't have loved the opportunity to don a conspicuously conservative spaghetti strap dress over long sleeved shirt and tights in the name of childhood fame.)

Anyway, it seems like now that Disney has their XD channel to dump their lame boy-themed programs like Wingin' It, a carbon copy of the world's awesomest Family Channel Sitcom Teen Angel except not remotely funny, they now have room for fun cartoons like Gravity Falls!

Ever-loveable Teen Angel features Marty (right) a deceased teen who died from eating a year-old burger under a bed, trying to help his socially awkward friend Steve (left). 

This is Wingin' It. I'm assuming they're going to photoshop the lockers in later .

Anyway back to Gravity Falls. This surprisingly great, very cleanly animated sitcom follows a pair of 12 year old twins Dipper and Mabel, accompanied by their fez-wearing Grunkle (Great Uncle) Stan as they encounter the paranormal. It watches like a PG South Park in terms of content with a more conventional flow.

Centre is Grunkle Stan in the aforementioned fez.

What's awesome about this show?

1. Paranormal Activity- in the non-mysetrious-sheets-moving way. 

2. Kristen Schaal (Louise from Bob's Burgers) as the voice of Mabel.

A sweater after my own heart- even more so if the circuits are shoddy and give off a lot of heat. ( I get really cold)

Louise from Bob's Burgers- I'm a little more of a sweater girl than a hat girl.

3. This is both a pro and a con: The show at first glance seemed so adorably Canadian without the in-your-face grossness that Yvon of the Yukon, or the desperate Canadian-ness that animated Bob and Doug seemed to have.

Look how painfully Canadian we are eh. -Aw, but still loveable :)

The characters were plaid-clad living in a coniferous forest. It seemed relatively cold- they were often wearing hats and sweaters, and there was even a herd of bison in one of the two episodes I saw.

However, later I discover that the show is only unassumingly Canadian because it's set in Oregon :( 

How the hell is this not Canada?

Now I'm going to pause for a minute to mention how much I hate it when people go far out of their way to try and make something look Canadian. For example, last year I went to see the Nutcracker and it was set on Wellington Crescent. The first five minutes of the ballet was a choreographed street hockey game. BAHH. When I see a Russian ballet, I want it to be Russian. A bit of street hockey isn't going to make this relatable for me. 

Next year this is how Russian I want it to be: Last night at a party, a friend of mine added vodka to pink lemonade and named it Lenin-ade. I want Lenin-ade to be the drink of choice at next year's ballet.

Back to business.

4. The series is by Alex Hirsch, the gravelly voiced maniac responsible for writing and voicing every good animated children's show in the past five years. On his list: The Marvellous Misadventures of Flapjack, a show that is kind of a mashup between Adventure Time, but with the exaggerated animation of Spongebob Squarepants, and Fish Hooks, a mildly funny show about fish that is made leagues funnier by Justin Roiland, Channel 101 superstar, voicing the main character.

Justin Roiland as Oscar. A paranoid fish in love with his best friend.
"Hahaha, yeah! Hahahaha, yeah!"

In conclusion, give it a watch. It's surprisingly adult. (As all good children's shows are).

Here's the theme. Pretty Cute

Lanfuest Quest and My Little Pony

Recently I was forwarded the opportunity to audition to voice for the cartoon series of the Anime Lanfuest Quest. Those who know me are probably wondering if I have all my limbs right now, because they know I would have mailed them an arm and a leg for the opportunity to achieve one of my greatest dreams. The auditions only ran two weeks, and I was alerted at the end of the first that I could send in my performance resume and they might slot me an audition. So either my resume was so resoundingly unimpressive that it somehow conveyed that I probably couldn't speak coherently enough to animate around, or they had already slotted their auditions far in advance. Oh well.

Lanfuest Quest is a French graphic novel set in a fantasy realm where everyone has a single power that can only be used in the presence of a sage (the equivalent of a studied magician in their world).

Lanfuest was apparently a a blacksmith who while handling an aristocrats sword, magically gained the ability to use any power and embarks on some manner of quest to learn about the phenomenon.

Apparently his adversary is some manner of evil pirate that has gained the same ability. (Why not, I like a good magical showdown)

As with pretty much every anime ever, this basic idea is made awesomer through piles of filth and gore. The version that DACAPO is producing will apparently be very toned down and aimed toward children.

This is Cixi, the slut I wanted to audition to be

Now the question is, am I who can be described by: 

1. Being an ultimate advocator of animation as a form of adult geared entertainment and not a medium only for children

2. Being a hater of censorship and firm supporter of all artistic freedoms.

3. Being a cartoon super-fan who happens to love a little gore on the site.

ok with the common decision to file down anime's sharp edges to appeal to a child audience?

Surprisingly the answer is yes.

As much as the animation community seems to collectively hate Seth MacFarlene's collective works of Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show, we often disregard their immense contribution to dragging cartoons out of the sandbox, and into the adult eye. They also developed a completely new, non-plot based format that while being criticized as lazy (and rightfully so) has made huge influences to the formatting and pacing of new adult cartoons. 

Before this, you used to find a lot more cartoon-enthusiast-adults sitting around watching Spongebob waiting for the covert adult jokes that the writers frequently threw in to keep themselves from ending it all.

I've been told that the new My Little Pony is one of these such shows, hence the massive Bronie following- so immense that the show apparently added a character called "Derpy Hooves". 

Yeah this is Derpy Hooves. Is her bumstamp supposed to signify derp-dom?

If I have to tune in to watch Derpy Hooves's Shenanigans (evidently they are very derpy) to see some good animated programming, then I'm completely fine with that. 

As long as people are enjoying it, I'll turn on Spongebob and wait for a dirty joke.

Ugly Americans Phallic Theme

I'm really excited over the momentum one of my new favorite shows, Ugly Americans, is getting.

I read in a bathroom reader once ( I mean several leather encyclopedias) that Ugly American has two historical meanings- one being favorable- as in a hardworking modest labor-type that all Americans should apparently be like, and the second being unfavorable- as in an ignorant American abroad.

Now I suppose I tie in something about my feelings for the show having a similar dichotomy- except luckily I graduated from IB English and I never have to do that crap again. :)

Then again, come to think of it, a lot of good animation has a similar scheme as a literary essay where one touches on three or so points, first stating some sort of discovery and then reiterating how it pertains to the overall thesis. South Park for instance uses a really serious essay format complete with the big IN CONCLUSION at the end of every episode and the startling hook at every beginning.

But back to Ugly Americans!

Things I love: In an episode of the first season, Calli spots an Orangina in a limo and calls out how weird it is. Orangina has had it far too good for far too long for such an inferior beverage. For all those Italians suffering out there- Chinotto is also a shitty beverage (Made from myrtle leaves? What the hell?) (It's just like coke- except it tastes like crap and is also bone dry) - but that is far too many softdrinks to take down in just one show.

For all those safe from Chinotto- let me endanger you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinotto_(soft_drink)

Other thing I love: STYLE!

They usually start an episode in one colour (which changes from episode to episode) and black- which makes every opening super dramatic and memorable. Also I love this lightly lined style for mythical creatures because it somehow makes them look so common and matter-of-fact.

Things that are weird: I'm starting to notice a pretty severe phallic theme- which is cool if they're trying to establish that the world they live in has a weird schlong culture, but kind of lame if they're just continually going back there for instant humor.

Examples: Treegasm- a whole episode devoted to two trees finally getting close enough for their sticklike tree genitals to touch and thus have sex- double schlong epsiode because we find out Randall's is some kind of detachable living creature that frequently takes off after repeated abuse.

The Manbirds- a whole episode about an underground cockfighting circuit where cocks fight cock with cock. Grimes gets back in the game and slays a slew of manbirds with his schlong.

Mark Likes Dick- This one is ok because the source of schlongflict is voiced by Jon Benjamin. Essentially Callie gets a sex change for a job in Atlantis that is apparently entirely populated by mermen.

Mark is schlongflicted.

Not that these all weren't fabulous episodes- just getting possibly a little bit heavy.

Jon Benjamin Episode

Bobs Burgers: Burger Boss

Why is it that if you put anything in 8 bit it becomes so damn loveable?
It's kind of like a little artist trick that I try to practice.  You try to sketch something using as few lines as possible and reduce your subject to its core components. Some of the best art comes from it because it resonates on such a basic level- and you really learn the importance of silhouette in developing something iconic.

The 8-bit test is akin to the line test in the way that if you're some manner of cartoonist and you convert your character into 8 bit and its not hilarious adorable and completely recognizable, then you need to get back to the drawing board.

Bobs Burgers is a definite pass. A good cheat for cartoon recognizability is big silhouette enhancing accessories like Louise's hat, or Tina's square glasses.

http://www.it8bit.com/post/20266176793/bobs
unfortunately I'm writing this seconds after the original air and nobody's posted pictures of the 8-bit yet.

That being said there's few things I love more than super jazzed up cross- style interpretations of my favorite animations. My all time favorite is the DVD cover of the second season of Venture Bros

  Holy crap are these the greatest things ever? Unquestionably. I mean, now I dont' have to lie in bed awake at night thinking about how Venture Bros isn't graphic enough.  I mean the Brock Sampson body count on any given episode is at least 30 and now this. This show has been perfected.

Long story short: another great episode of Bob's Burgers- that being said anything with Jon Benjamin in it is automatic gold- probably to the point where it really carries the show. It seems like the Bob's Burgers's structure and pacing is a little bit of a throwback what with the shift that the Seth MacFarlane's cartoons flooding the public has brought to way people think about animation and follow plotlines.

I thought this might make people less susceptible to the show, but its back for another season so it looks like its working out.

New Season South Park: Shopping Channel

Crecomm is winding down so I'm finally getting back to my duel loves, animation, and the Shopping Channel. This is coming at a great time since the new season of South Park and Ugly Americans are both in motion.

The second episode of of the new season of South Park (Incidentally about the Shopping Channel) was fabulous. The cultural phenomenon episodes (they usually do about one per season now ever since Guitar Hero) are always my favorites just because of the ridiculous accuracy of how they portray the phenomenon in question.

http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/south-park?before=1332141965

I was absolutely beside myself watching the Shopping Channel host set the scene in which you would find yourself wearing a 14 karat catseye peridot tanzanite ring as a senior citizen, but thinking about it now, I doubt it anyone else watches as much Shopping Channel as me, enough to understand how hilariously accurate this is.

I love the Shopping channel for two reasons: I love jewelry, and I love live TV. Watching them fumble keys throw to delayed testimonials and bullshit to no tomorrow to fill time at 3 am on a backdrop of glittering jewels? Nothing could bring me greater joy.

My all time favorite part was portrayed with the utmost of accuracy. An unquestionably hideous and/or frivolous piece comes in, and they whip it out and have a little on- air brainstorm about what kind of moods come to mind when they see it.- I'll parallel this with an example- say someone had brought in a Scooby-Doo diamond encrusted pendant- selling it at $300, valued at $500 (making it a "dazzling deal"), with an "Easy Pay" of 10 payments of $30 (unfortunately not uncommon).

www.theshoppingchannel.ca

This is what they would say about the piece:
Oh, now isn't this a beautiful whimsical piece.
Oh definitely (there's always two of them), this is a glittering gem of nostalgia
It conjures up images of mystery and camaraderie. I would feel adventurous wearing this piece.
Perfect if you have a young daughter or perhaps know someone young at heart- maybe a granddaughter who's graduating? This would be the perfect way to remind her to take chances but to stay young at heart.....

Notice how I said granddaughter? The South Park episode specifically advocates that shopping channels take advantage of elderly people.

Is this true? Well, it is impossible to run such a channel without targeting the elderly people for two reasons: One: Nobody else is at home during the day/would not become insanely irritated by the slow pace of the program. Two: Nobody who isn't over 60 would order anything by phone.

I can't speak for how competent or easily taken advantage of elderly people are but one would assume that there is a range- just as there is for people of any other age.  I'm also sure a lot of elderly people have trouble leaving the house and the Shopping Channel allows them to buy gifts and feel out and about with a little more ease. Plus the channel has the energy and presence of live TV- which pretty much all other daytime TV lacks.

On the other hand- it's clear that a good most of their showcases and collections are targeting the elderly- and who can blame them, those are the people who are watching (other than me).

So I guess, it's just one of those grey area things. Just like the episode, which featured Trey Parker and Matt Stone's almost formulaic yet hilarious "Stan's going to get to the bottom of who's responsible for all this" blame attribution globe-hop. (Never gets old!).

FINAL THOUGHT: Last night Canada's shopping channel unveiled a big secret live at 10 pm ET, and of all the hilarious coincidences I missed it to watch this recorded episode of South Park.
The announcement was the switch to their beautiful and extravagant new studio that they've been secretly? building for the last two years- and holy crap is it gorgeous- the studio that I as an amateur live TV director-have always dreamed of. Big LCD screens, glass tables, spa brick walls- the works.

Check out my dream studio with a live tour: I can't embed the video but here's the link (it might be a little slow) : http://www.theshoppingchannel.com/go/BehindTheScenes

FINAL FINAL THOUGHT: I love what you do The Shopping Channel- and if you're looking for someone to pull cables in your beautiful studio-----right here.