Voice Actors Documentary
I’m a real sucker for animation and voice actors.
The Amazing Screw-On Head
I didn’t know Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies) worked on this. I want to see it. Put it in my Netflix list.
Alice in Wonderland
The Alice in Wonderland film (dir Tim Burton) is not an adaptation of any of the Lewis Carroll books, but rather a continuation of Alice’s life as a young woman. The transition/growing pains are apparent when Alice (Mia Wasikowska) finds herself at odds with society’s standards (what’s expected of a sane, rational young woman), versus her own eccentricities. She is also at odds with the people in her life, and herself.
Creepy place, the mind.
The question of “who is Alice” comes forth multiple times in this film. One could suggest her size changing is the result of her self-esteem/worth. Even when she towers over everyone, she reacts as if she’s small, timid, and ineffective. When she makes up her mind several times in the film, she still needs the help of others to obtain her goals.
Lil' Alice and Red Queen
When I fist saw the film (not in 3D by the way), I didn’t know what to make of it. I was not angry or disappointed, but felt it was very unusual. Visual wise I was treated to some very Burton-esque imagery where darkness, insanity, and the human psyche are displayed on a playground too sublime for words.
This is Alice’s journey, and the poor girl isn’t even at home in a world that represents her own mind, or parts of her mind. Alice believes in impossible things, but it takes the whole film for her to get there. Her final confrontation with the Jabberwocky (nice voice cameo by Christopher Lee) does something a little different, as men usually slay the beast with the ladies swooning. I did hate when Alice said the line, “off with your head.” Perhaps it could be seen as her acceptance of the part of her psyche that is the Red Queen.
Don't steal her tarts, or you'll be sorry.
Character-wise there are a lot of oddities. The Red Queen, (Helena Bohnam Carter) steals the show with her insanity and cruelty. Anne Hathaway as the With Queen is entertaining as well. Despite wearing white, and gliding all over the place, I got the impression this queen was high all the time. In addition to her “highness” she’s very, very dark with her ability to make potions from dead/grotesque things. I was surprised Alice drank one of those concoctions.
The costumes are brilliant: starting from the beginning of the film, with period clothes, and then Wonderland characters. I was surprised to find out how much of it was green screen, and what was not. For example, The Red Queen wore an actual costume, but her right hand man, Stane (Crispin Glover), was nearly all green screen. Granted I expected the animals to be computer generated, a look at the “making of” features shows how little was there for the actors to react to, and the sets were non-existent.
The White Queen.
What I found odd was the use of the Mad Hatter on the cover of the Blu-Ray box. It gave me the distinct impression that he is the main star of this story, when in fact he is not. Granted Depp has a lot of fan appeal, I think in keeping with the title of the story, and the fact that Alice must find a way to empower herself, it comes off as a little cynical. As if her story is unworthy of carrying the movie, yet Alice did carry the film.
Thundarr The Barbarian: Old School Animation Goodness
I got myself Thundarr the Barbarian on DVD, which was created by comics writer Steve Gerber as a Saturday morning cartoon that ran from 1980-82. The series only lasted two seasons, but it was the stuff of my dreams. This is very old school animation entertainment full of strengths and weaknesses.
Thundarr, Ookla & Ariel don't take that mess off of tyrants.
Thundarr exists in a post-apocalyptic Earth after a runaway planet passes between the Earth and the moon. As the shows says, “unleashing cosmic destruction.” After 2,000 years the world is now populated with magic, super science, mutants, and humans. Thundarr, along with his friends Ookla the Mok (mutant), and Princess Ariel (sorceress) travel this new world and help humans and friendly mutants against wizards, pirates, etc. Thundarr tells many of his foes he “bows to no wizard,” and often disposes of them by the end of the episode.
When looking at many of the wizard’s one can see a parallel between some large corporations who use people and spit them out. For example, many humans were fodder, pawns, slaves and insignificant to wizards in the hierarchy of schemes. Several humans lived in ragged conditions while wizards lived with style and well-constructed strongholds. Wizards always hold all the knowledge of old Earth and the bulk of super science. There are two exception to this rule where the wizards are on very low end of the spectrum. You know times are tough all over when the economy wrecks a wizard or two.
Wizard Gemini says, "Bring it on."
Some of the cons to this show is continuity errors, some bad perspective in spots, and the occasional plot logic errors that I often scratch my head about, even as a kid. It does not outweigh the good.
One of the good points of this show is many of the character designs. Comics/Animation legends Alex Toth and Jack Kirby worked on this series. Toth designed Space Ghost and characters for the Super Friends cartoon. Kirby, has an equally fantastic legacy in comics. His creations for Marvel, DC still exist in current continuity. Kirby’s style is clear and strong in several of the characters and vehicles. Many of the antagonists bear Kirby’s style. It’s good to see Toth and Kirby’s work in animation to have an extended life.
Sound plays a high role here as well. Several of the wizards have a creepy metallic voices that adds to their supernatural presence. The sound effects for the time were distinct enough to reinforce the more exotic elements of the show.
The future looks mighty bleak, but entertaining.
Some of the episodes, “Mindok The Mind Menance” (bodiless wizard) “The Brotherhood of Night” (werewolves), “Stalker From the Stars” (alien in search of humans as food), and “Island of the Body Snatchers” (witch who steals Ariel’s body) were creepy and made them a little bit more memorable to me.
The DVD is bare bones, and with a mislabel on dic three as to episodes. I wish there were some liner notes or interviews that were either preserved or started so that we could hear from the surviving creators of the series. It’s a slice of animation history that I’d love to see get a little more fanfare.
Clone Wars: The Micro Series (2003)
While I discussed the ongoing 3-D animated series in detail, I mentioned that the artistic influence came from the 2003 2-D micro-series directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. For those not in the know, like the ongoing 3-D series, the episodes take place between the prequel films Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith.
Many fans of the micro-series may know Tartakovsky from his great work on Samurai Jack (2001). Samurai Jack possesses a very stylized sense of design and animation, as well as mastery the use of various senses. Sound, minimal dialog (on occasion), color, and precise action are but a taste of what one can find in the various episodes. Samurai Jack is quite the visual feast that seduces the eyes and ears.
Tartakovsky brings those skills to Clone Wars.
In 2-D the character and mechanical designs look good, and one can see its influence of the micro series on the 3-D program. Many of my animation friends make a distinction here. They feel that sharp, geometrical elements of the artwork fit perfectly in the 2-D world. By contrast they suggest that the 3-D world makes them images jarring.
There is a lot of fun to be had with 2-D animation. For me, it’s a style I’ve grown up watching. It’s a form that lends itself to exaggeration. The medium itself is brilliant, and in the right hands (like any medium) we can see art and a quality level that some live action film/TV can only dream about.
We do follow Anakin through the micro series, as he matures from Padawan to Jedi Knight. His immaturity is brought into play as well as his skill level. He does his best to be a better warrior, but his failings are set in stone.
2-D allows for greater exaggeration of events. For example, Mace Windu’s single handed assault on an army of Droids, and their latest death machine. The battle’s quite sublime. It’s hard to imagine Windu’s defeat in the Revenge of the Sith film, as the man is literally a one man army. Does he even need the clones?
Luminara Unduli
Clone Wars even manages to use quieter moments, like when Master Luminara Unduli and her Padawan Barriss Offee are trapped beneath rubble. The Jedi master kneels, meditates to command the force to keep from crushing her and Offee.
General Grievous’ debut and attack on the Jedi also is sublime as he shows that he is a creature formidable enough to fight and kill multiple Jedi at once.
Clone Trooper on the go!
The Clones are seen as crack commandoes, who are efficient and well trained. By contrast to the live action films, we do not see the effectiveness of these characters. In fact, Both Jango and Boba Fett pale in comparison to the skills the Clones possess.
There is no sacrifice of action, as we get plenty of it. We get to see several of the characters (Jedi, Clone Troopers, and Count Dooku) make some impressive feats of their skill.
This may explain how some see the 3-D art style as a more realistic approach to animation. By borrowing the art style from the 2-D program, the 3-D show infuses a part of the 2-D that was distinctly Tartakovski.
Sound is so prevalent in this micro series (something you would also see in Samurai Jack). Some scenes appear quite, and we are allowed to hear drapery rustle in the winds. Sometimes simply the running engine of a vehicle is all you hear. The fight between Asajj Ventress and Anakin contains minimal dialog. Mace Windu doesn’t speak a word in his fight. He simply takes down the army
Several notable voice actresses here as well. Cree Summer voices Luminara Unduli. Ventress is portrayed by Grey DeLisle. Summer gives Luminara an enlightened and strong voice. DeLisle makes Ventress raspy and creepy. Corey Burton makes an impressive Count Dooku (he also VA’s in the current 3-D series).
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
For the record I’m speaking of the 2008 animated series that completed season one in 2009. There is another animated SW micro-series of the same name, for those not in the know, in 2003-05. The major difference is that the 2003-5 series is 2-D animation. The current series is 3-D and the supervising director is Dave Filoni, who worked on Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series.
One can see the style of the 2-D series infused into the new series with the sharp angles and geometrical forms. In fact, the characters resemble marionettes. As their hair does not move, yet clothes do. I do not find this a distraction from the stories. Mind you, I hang out with animation and special effects majors. They either like the show or hate it.
In respect to continuity I’ve encountered resistance from several fans of the original trilogy, and the expanded universe of Star Wars (comics, novels and video games). A few people mention their dislike of Asoka Tanno, Anakin Skywalker’s plucky Padawan Learner (Jedi in training).
Granted Asoka can be a little obnoxious, but she comes off very likable. She has a lot to learn about being a Jedi, and Anakin’s roguish training rubs off on her. Many of the resistance and complaints I hear about Asoka relates to the fact that she’s new to the Star Wars universe, and therefore rejectable.
What I do like and noticed right away is that Anakin appears heroic. This is a mild contrast to the live action movies, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, where Anakin’s portrayed spoiled, bratty, whiny, and annoying. A lot of fun comes from his hotheaded behavior, but watching him do good (which makes him a better tragic figure)
I never bought Anakin’s conversion to the dark side in the films. It felt to simplistic and without any reason behind his actions. Clone Wars offers us some glimpses into Anakin’s tragedy. What happens to Asoka? Does she die in the animated series? Wouldn’t that push him over the edge?
Some of the villains come off more developed than before. General Grievous displays his skills as a fighter and a general with short patience. Count Dooku often plays in the background as an imposing godfather, so does Darth Sidious. Asajj Ventress is a Sith assason. She’s quite the vicious fighter, and trained by Dooku. A new villain, Cad Bane makes his appearance in the last episode, and exudes a cool under pressure that makes him appealing.
The scenery looks gorgeous, full of various colors along with sound effects that we all know and love (light saber duels). All sorts of planets and stations appear within the series.
Two great episodes I do love is, “Cloak of Darkness,” and “Lair of Grievous.” Both stories center around Dooku’s agents failing him, and needing to redeem themselves in his eyes. “Cloak of Darkness” shows Asajj completing a retrieval mission of one of her allies. Her mastery of treachery comes off very clear as she executes the mission “too the letter.” In “Lair of Grievous,” The general finds that Dooku’s dissatisfied with his performance as a leader. In Sith fashion, failure means a test of the worst kind.
