|
Year of the Rat: Roland Rat Superstar
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 7, 2008 in Animation
Today marks the start of the Chinese New Year, so we’re exploring fanboy themes relating the Year of the Rat. Shown above is Roland Rat Superstar, a British puppet character from the 80s. Roland was first conceived and voiced by David Claridge in 1983. The show would become so popular that it would inspire three UK chart hit singles and a video game. Here are some clips from the show: A Fabulous Flip Book Site
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 5, 2008 in Animation
Playing with a flip book gives you that primordial joy that goes to the heart of not just what animation is, but perhaps cinema itself. Shown above are but a few samples (click on the image to see it at full size) from the amazing website flipbook.info: “Welcome to FLIPBOOK.info, a website entirely devoted to an art form half way between book and movie. We have a collection of 4420 flip books (also called flick books or folioscopes) from 1882 to nowadays with a great diversity of topics.” Experimental Anime from Early 90s
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 3, 2008 in Animation
Ebiten was a Japanese TV show from the early 90s that featured a contest for amateur short movie directors. Shown above is the stop motion film Pulsar (1990) by Katushi Bowda, below is the film Power (1991) by Yoshinao Sato which was created with a copy machine technique. The Toy Story Trilogy in 3D
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 26, 2008 in Animation
That right! A third Toy Story movie is in the works (and it will be in 3D too): Vintage Animated Commercials from the 60s
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 24, 2008 in Animation
Shown above are animated commercials from the mid to late 60s for Milkbone Dog Treats, Puma softdrink, Standard Oil, a public service Voting spot (done in a Terry Gilliam style), Marathon (starring the characters from the comic strip B.C.), Levi’s, Hamilton Watches (spot by R.O. Blechman), Fritos, Graf’s Diet Sodas, Hanes, a Buick dealership, and cherry flavored Chocks. And here’s another set from the same era: Mr. Contac at Your Service
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 22, 2008 in Animation
It’s quite clever how this commercial for Contac in Japan features 3D stop motion animation characters drawing 2D animation. The pill character is called Mr. Contac and is from Osaka, Japan. He’s been featured on all sorts of cute merchandise like this phone strap: Hakaba Kitaro Opening Titles
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 21, 2008 in Animation
I love the comic book look of the opening titles above, they’re for for the anime series Hakaba Kitaro which just started running this January on Fuji Television. The series focuses around the character Kitaro who was born in a cemetery and his missing his left eye. Patariro Collectables CommercialThe anime series Patalliro! ran from 1982 until 1983 and is interesting because it was based on a manga by Mineo Maya which focused on bishounen (i.e. pretty boys). The show was more comedy than anything else, but I think it’s a good early example of Yaoi, which are manga focused on male gay relationships marketed to the ladies. There’s a good article on the show here by Mary Kennard. It was funny for me to come across that article because back in the early 80s I knew Mary, as she could be spotted at meetings of the Cartoon/Fantasy Organization in New York City which I went to all of the time. Jinzo Toriumi Turns the Page
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 19, 2008 in Animation
Recently I was reading that screen writer Jinzo Toriumi passed away. Toriumi got his start writing episodes of Astro Boy in 1964, and then in 1965 he moved to Tatsunoko Productions where he worked on Speed Racer, Gatchaman (Battle of the Planets to us American fanboys), and well into the 80s with shows like the Votoms. Shown above are the titles for the 70s anime comedy series Yatterman which he wrote the script for (along with Akiyoshi Sakai). 10 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1997
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
It’s been ten years but I feel that Hayao Miyazaki’s Princess Mononoke holds up pretty well (and will look still look great good ten, twenty, and thirty years into the future). 20 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1987
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Shown above is the opening from the 1987 classic anime film Robot Carnival. 30 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1977
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Inspired by Disney’s Fantasia Allegro non troppo was THE animated film of 1977 directed by Bruno Bozzetto. 40 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1967
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Forty years ago Tatsunoko introduced the classic anime series Mach Go Go Go which would become known in the United States as Speed Racer, which will be revisited by Hollywood in the upcoming year. 50 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1957
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Produced by Miami’s Soundac Studios the animated series Colonel Bleep was the first color cartoon made for television and entered syndication in 1957 as part of “Uncle Bill’s TV Club”. 60 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1947
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Animated in 1947 by Famous Studios Naughty but Mice was the first cartoon in the Herman and Katnip series. 70 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1937
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Shown above is an amazing promotional film for Disney’s Snow White from 1937. 80 Years Ago in Animation: Looking Back at 1927
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 31, 2007 in Animation
Before Mickey there was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, featured above in Trolley Troubles a short film made in 1927. The Cucumber-flavored Drink Song
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 28, 2007 in Animation
I was quite blown away by this cute moe themed Flash movie (shown above) which is by Ioshisu, which is a music/comedy group from Japan. Japanamania: Romeo x Juliet
Posted by Guest Author on Dec 24, 2007 in Animation
Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008: Romeo x Juliet (anime) You may think that since you read Romeo and Juliet in high school, you don’t need to read this description, but I guarantee that you do. Gonzo’s Romeo x Juliet is like no version you’ve ever seen before. Set on the floating island of Neo-Verona, home to many pegasi, RxJ is a fantasy take on the tale. While the series is unlicensed, Gonzo has made noise against fansubs of the series via FUNimation, which has not announced the series as being licensed- leading fans to speculation on Gonzo’s release plans. In any case, the series features a rather strong, sword-fighting Juliet as the only remaining member of the house of Capulet, which was destroyed by the leader of the Montague house years before. Montague is now the Duke of Neo-Verona, while the Capulets lay in the dust. Juliet, who frequently defends the townspeople using the name The Red Wind, is given the task of restoring the family honor by defeating Montague, but not until after she’s already met and fallen for Romeo. The decisions that she makes will alter the lives of those around her irreparably- and in more ways than any of them imagine. Below: The opening titles for Romeo x Juliet. Gia Manry is a Portland, OR-based professional writer specializing in pop culture/entertainment writing. Read up on more of her work at giapet.net or hire her at GiaManry.com. Japanamania: Ouran High School Host Club
Posted by Guest Author on Dec 23, 2007 in Animation
Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008: Ouran High School Host Club (anime) For reasons unbeknownst to anyone, FUNimation sat on this license for quite some time before announcing it; it actually aired in Japan in 2006. Nonetheless, the shoujo reverse harem series (reverse in that it’s one girl surrounded by many good-looking guys) is a big hit with both the ladies and the gentlemen for both its zany humor and it’s relatively subtle drama. Haruhi Fujioka is the lone impoverished scholarship student at Ouran High School, a school for kids so rich that a group of boys started a Host Club to entertain their female schoolmates in. One day Haruhi stumbles upon the Host Club while seeking a quiet place to study and instead accidentally breaks an expensive vase- and becomes the club’s newest toy to pay for it. At first a mere gopher, Haruhi eventually is given a makeover and becomes a host…then, and only then, do the guys realize that Haruhi is actually a girl. The real genius of Host Club, though, isn’t the switcheroo it plays on classic gender roles. The true brilliance is that while the comedy stems from poking fun at traditional shoujo romance archetypes, the drama comes almost entirely from watching the characters grow up and learn who they are, a refreshing change of pace from the usual soap opera anime. Below: Opening titles for Ouran High School Host Club. Gia Manry is a Portland, OR-based professional writer specializing in pop culture/entertainment writing. Read up on more of her work at giapet.net or hire her at GiaManry.com. Japanamania: Darker Than Black
Posted by Guest Author on Dec 22, 2007 in Animation
Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008: Darker Than Black (anime) Talk about a pedigree: Darker than Black was animated by BONES, the studio which produced, among other things, Fullmetal Alchemist, Wolf’s Rain, and Blood+. It was directed by Tensai Okamura, who directed the Cowboy Bebop movie and also worked on its TV series, as well as directing the Wolf’s Rain OVA. And perhaps greater than all of these is the music, created by none other than Yoko Kanno, the master who composed music for Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell, various Macross series, and a dozen or so others. This collection of anime superstars pulled together a captivating series that is visually and musically stunning. Japanamania: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion
Posted by Guest Author on Dec 21, 2007 in Animation
Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008: Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (anime) The studio that creates the Gundam franchise, Sunrise, developed this political soap opera in the guise of a mech show. It features character designs by the world-famous manga group CLAMP, stellar animation, excellent voice acting, and tons of drama. And best of all, it’s also getting a second season, currently undated. Japanamania: Gundam 00
Posted by Guest Author on Dec 19, 2007 in Animation
Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008: Gundam 00 (anime) Okay, it’s got Gundam in the name, so I hardly need to tell you that the show looks amazing and involves both mechs and politics. But if the sheer volume of Gundam Universal Century shows scares you, don’t worry: Gundam 00 is, like predecessor Gundam Wing, a completely independent series from the rest of the franchise. Its first season is currently airing in Japan, with a second season scheduled for October of 2008. Japanamania: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2
Posted by Guest Author on Dec 18, 2007 in Animation
Our Top Ten Anime and Manga Series to Watch For in 2008: It’s easy to find out about a Bleach or a Naruto once it’s being aired on Cartoon Network, but it can take years for an anime to be licensed, dubbed, and put on TV. So here’s our sneak peek at one of the ten manga or anime series that we feel are likely to hit it big in America in 2008: The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya 2 (anime) The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya– which was released in North America by Bandai Entertainment throughout the second half of 2007 is getting a sequel! Seeing as the first 14-episode series covered only a fraction of the so-far-10-volume novel series, it’s unsurprising that a season 2 was announced. Given the international buzz the first season received, it seems likely you’ll hear about the new season, so here’s a quick rundown. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Copyright © 2024 Fanboy.com All rights reserved. Theme by Laptop Geek.
