The Oscars

Per a debate going on over at the Facebook page, I decided I should take a second to fully explain my thoughts on Toy Story 3 and the Oscars over here. First of all, let me say that over on the Huffington Post, Michael Barrier made a similar argument not to long ago, and articulated these ideas far better than me.

Let me also say that I do not think that Toy Story 3 or ANY Pixar work is bad, except--to quote Lisa Simpson--Cars. I think Pixar is terrific, and if you give me the opportunity to go see a Pixar movie or any other piece of work from Studio X that's out at the same time, I'm going to go see the Pixar movie, and I will enjoy it. I have pals that work at Pixar. I have Monsters Inc., Ratatouille, and Finding Nemo toys on my desk where I'm writing this. So this is not about me not liking Pixar movies. I don't even take the hard-line stance that Barrier does. I just don't go into Pixar movies with the blind do-no-wrong attitude with which a lot of fans see these films.

The fact of the matter is, though, that the reason people like Pixar movies is largely an emotional trick. It's like people sit down at these movies and say, "All right, here we fuckin' go. It's cryin' time." The films use music, lighting, and a series of story-telling tricks to manipulate audiences and their emotions.

"But other movies do that!" I can hear you yelling at me as I decry Woody and Buzz. Yes, you're exactly right; other movies do that. These are time honored tricks of story-telling. But people don't seem to see them as that. For some reason, when people see a Pixar movie they think that Pixar has achieved some magic story-telling feat. Praising Pixar for their truly original story-telling. The fact is, if I read you the story for Toy Story 3 or Wall-E or Up they wouldn't seem that original. In fact they're kind of formulaic with toys, robots, or crank old guys and weird birds placed in the spots normally occupied by people. I could take them one by one and show you, but I don't want to. You're smart people, and you can figure it out.

Again, though, that does not mean that these movies are bad. Part of good movie making is hiding the tricks. And the tricks seem to be hidden pretty well from people who are fans. Partly because you're watching a story about a fish instead of a kid and partly because the audience has a knee-jerk response to like whatever Pixar puts out. "That's not true. I don't automatically like everything Pixar puts out. I didn't like Cars." Nobody liked Cars. That's not an argument.

Toy Story 3 is a good movie. Up is a good movie. They are not great movies. I think that Barrier say it best: "There's a sentimentality in most Pixar pictures that are [sic] very manipulative and completely unconvincing to me. They are congratulating their audience for feeling these synthetic emotions..."

Having said all that, enjoy the next Pixar film. I'll probably see you there. Until then you've got a friend in me.

CG

Tiny Tunes Nostalgia

Currently running on television is a commercial for Citi Bank where the narrator guy is talking about his parents getting adjusted to living in Istanbul after his father gets transferred there for his job.

First of all, what job do you have that's going to transfer you to Istanbul? I can't think of any industry of which Istanbul would be the hub. At least I can't think of one that doesn't sound racist: your magic carpet manufacturing, your camel sales, etc.

Anyway, every time I see that commercial all I can think of is this:


Remember when after school cartoons were this good? Funny, smart comedy shows that didn't talk down to kids, that encouraged you to learn why the joke was funny if you didn't get it. Keep an eye on the forthcoming Cartoon Guru Podcast because I have a couple of Tiny Tunes writers and story guys lined up.

CG

Angry Dad The Movie

Though it probably wasn't nearly as funny to non-animation industry people, last night's very meta Simpson's was one of the funniest episodes I've seen in a while.

Loved Ricky Gervais in this episode, obviously, and the homage/jabs at Pixar and Nick Parks. This reminded me of the kind of good pop culture satire that The Simpsons used to do all the time, and not the movie parodies they seem to be doing every third episode now.
Give it a watch.

CG

CG Remakes

Dear Studio Executives,
Doing this to cartoons does not make them better. It does not "turn them on to a whole new generation of kids." It does not "bring them into the 21st century." It does not "give them a new attitude." What it does is piss off fans of the originals, make the characters look horrible and creepy, and bastardizes the humor and the work of the people who created these characters.

If you really want to "introduce these characters to a whole new generation," how about just introducing these characters to a whole new generation. Why not put Rocky and Bullwinkle back on television? Or re-release Yogi Bear?

And who wants these characters "brought into the 21st century?" Here's an idea, how about having an original idea and creating new great characters for kids to watch instead of profiteering off of brilliant minds from fifty years ago.

And maybe, just maybe we could use the WABAC machine to go back and stop this from happening.

Thanks,
CG

Fowl Weather Friend

Today it's rainy and cold in Los Angeles, and boy am I bored. I suppose it could be worse. While the rest of the country has been getting pummeled with snow for the past few weeks, Los Angelenos have been enjoying 70-degree sunny days. So I guess one or two rainy days isn't so bad in the grand scheme.

However, that don't change the fact that I am bored. I had planned to play tennis and go for a run, but now I'm stuck inside and it's absolutely no fun.

Wait...did you hear that? A rhyme. That's it! I know someone who can help me have a fun time during the rain:


Yay!

CG

The Pink Workout

I have been trying to get in better shape recently. Though I am an avid runner, I lack quite a bit in the way of muscle tone, much less physique. Like I do with most things I life, I wondered if Cartoondom could offer me any direction, so I went online and found this cartoon:

What I learned is that if The Pink Panther can have body image issues, than anyone can. The Pink Panther is one of the suavest, coolest, most mellow cartoon characters there is. If he's neurotic about his level of fitness, then no wonder I am.

Taking a page out of PP's book, I chose not to just look at my body and let myself become a pink amorphous blob. I decided to give some of these exercises a try, but then I got distracted watching Pink Panther cartoons all day.

Maybe tomorrow.

CG

See The Cartoon Guru Live

This Friday, I will be performing live as a part of the DESTRUCTO! Show at Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, CA. Click the photo below for details. Please come on out if you are in town. There will be talk of gay characters in Hanna-Barbera cartoons.

CG