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popculturebuffet · 2 years

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Pirate Month!: Pirates!: Adventures with Scientists (Band of Misfits) Review!: Release The British Cut (Commison for WeirdKev27)

Come aboard all ye happy swabs, i’m yer Captain Jake and this is Pirate Month, where I review a bunch of the finest works to sale the seven seas.

And while Darkwing Dubloon got us kicked off, it’s now time to sale right and proper with what i’ve found on rewatch to be a true classic: Pirates; An Adventure with Scientests! Or as it was known here in the US, Pirates: Band of Misfits.

Pirates is the fifth film from beloved animation studio Aardman and isn’t he first film i’ve covered of theres on there blog, as last year I did a Wallace and Gromit retrospective, cumulating in Curse of the Were-Rabbit, which is excellent. And since Kev, my patron turned friend who still pays me money to review things was the one behind that, it was only a matter of time before I came back, and gladly as i’ve always loved Aardman and remembered liking what I saw of this films when my niece and nibling got it when they were young. So I was happy to give it another look.

Before I can get into what I thought about it (aka what I was paid for and frankly would’ve done for free but mans gotta eat), a bit of backstory: For starters to my shock Pirates is actually based on a book of the same name, starting a whole SERIES by author Gideon DaFoe who wrote the script for the movie on top of this. Had I known this I would’ve tired to get and read the book beforehand, so as a result I can’t say how it stacks as an adaptation. I can say however that, in part due to having the authors input and clearly loving said source material it seems in the same spirit: Madcap adventures with pirates following the daft Pirate Captain (which everyone uses as if it was his name) and his crew of ham loving pirates who don’t really have names just descrptions such as number 2, albino pirate, and suprsiingly curvacious pirate (aka a woman whose only disguise is a fake bushy beard), who get into shenanigans. In short just from what I could find out about the book and the other books, it was PERFECT material for Aardman to adapt.

It was also something they’d wanted to do fairly quick as the book came out in 2004 and was what the crew wanted to do as their next film at Dreamworks after Curse of the Were-Rabbit. And Jeffrey Katzenberg’s response?

Yeah Jeff’s justification was that “Pirate movies just aren’t profitable right now” Given this was after Pirates of The Carribean had been a MASSIVE sleeper hit for disney and was on track to have two sequels which would end up being monster hits, I can only guess that his real justification was ‘I’M NOT GIVING THOSE GREASY BASTARDS THE SATSIFACTION OF COPYING THEM. I’LL SHOW THEM BY NOT MAKING MONEY. SEE HOW THEY LIKE IT”. Which somehow ISN’T the dumbest corprate decision i’ve read about in the past week, but only because Warner Bros just torched a film people woul’dve gladly seen for a tax writeoff and still hasn’t backed down from this monumentally dumbass and not remotely seen as smart decsion, so it kinda came in at a bad week.

SHOCKINGLY their partnership with Dreamworks only lasted through flushed away after this kind of sterling decision, so they went to Sony next, pre-knowing what they were doing with animation so it only lasted Arthur Christmas, another film I need to cover sometime, and this flim.

That said even if the Pirates of The Caribbiean craze was gone, Sony still smartly backed the studio who knew better than them, so this flim happened. Production was apparently really smooth, with Aardman taking their cg knowledge to the film, allowing them to do a film with water and on boats like this FAR easier than in the past. Hence the water in the film is cg and some of the sets were expanded with it. And i’m entirley okay with this: I’m sure some claymation purists aren’t, but sometimes there’s only SO FAR you can go with a medium budget and time wise, and it’s done in a way that I GENINELY thought the water was done with stop motion. And even once I knew otherwise., I still couldn’t tell looking at the sets and water that it wasn’t stop motion. I’ts blended perfectly and thus allows the film to be as grand and swashbuckling as it should be.

That said a good production... didn’t translate to good box office. It did eh in the united states. I think part of this is the title as in the US we got band of misfits which isn’t bad, it’s an apt title, but it’s just not as inherently funny as “In an adventure with scientests” and was bafflingly changed because the books weren’t as big here.. forgetting that an adaptation of books can MAKE the books big. I didn’t even know Over the Hedge existed before the movie, and i’m a huge comic strip nerd, and How to Train Your Dragon, while being vastly diffrent from the books, still got them to sell and wider distribution.

IT also probably dosen’t hlep that for older fans they cut a lot of risque jokes from the film. I watched the UK cut this go round, which I want to get a wider release as it’s REALLY funny, and it does have some adult jokes such as Charles Darwin outright mentiong his monkey bob’s “Unsightly ass” and a scientest promoting an airship , which would change travel, as really being the best because you can look down ladies tops (which Charles confirms later). It also weirdly swapped out the actors for Albino pirate for no real reason.

But honestly while it had those things working against it.. what ultimately doomed it was opening between avengers and hunger games. In short.. it was SONY’S fault, not the films. Even edited down, it simply coudln’t compete with the two biggest films of the year, and thus Sony ended the partnership and Aardman has gone mostly independent, most recently partnering with Netflix, which has me worried given how the last few partnerships went and Netflix current state, but hopefully it pans out. That said provided Sony no longer has the rights to the books, it does mean since their making plenty of sequels out of the gate, we have a chance at a sequel for this film, as Aardman DID have one planned and there are plenty of nutty adventures from the books to adapt in addition to the adventures with cowboys idea: they adventure with captain ahab, mary shelley and COMMUNISTS. Yes there really is an adventure with communists including Karl Marks. I REALLY gotta get my hands on these books because hot damn this is amazing and deserves a tv series. Or a series of movies. Just aardman, somehow continue this. I beg you.

Before we get into why i’m begging them, we have one last bit of buisness to cover for those unlucky souls who haven’t seen the movie and those of you who like me hadn’t seen it in a decade and thus don’t remember it that well.

Pirates follows Pirate Captain, played by Hugh Grant whose easily the best part of this flim. And keep in mind the voice cast ofr this flim is NOT remotely shallow: We have Martin Freeman as Number Two (Aka Pirate with a Scarf) Pirate Captain’s oft ignored and frustrated #2, Imelda Staunton flexing her Umbridge Muscles (While I may be frosty towards harry potter for obvious TERF shaped reasons, I won’t deny that her performance in the film was fucking pitch perfect and she’s pretty much playing umbridge as the queen of england here, same mixture of sometines going full ham mixed with icy could authortanisim with a sugary hint of malice), David Fucking Tennant in one of his earlier VA rolls as Charles Darwin, the wonderful Selma Hayek in a sadly short roll as Cutlass LIz, extra shouty king of kings BRIAN BELSSED as The Pirate King, and in the US Cut, the late great Anton Yelchen. Add in some great UK voices I don’t recognize in name but do a great job, with my faviotie being the equally underultizied pegleg hastings by Lenny Henry and scottishy Ashely Jennings as Suprisingly Curvacious Pirate, and you have one hell of a cast and Grant still tops them. Grant plays Pirate Captain to the hilt, playing him as on the surface a jolly swashbuckler with a sense of gravitas, a mastery of disguise, and a flair.. while also being a bit impulsive, rekckless, egotistical and his most crippling selfish, putting his desire for Pirate Of the Year over common sense, which he has little of to begin with and often taking his second for granted, to Number Two’s frustration.

You also see though WHY he wants this so bad: the three front runners, Liz, Hastings and “Sigh” Black Belamy. Black Belamy is played by Jeremy Piven, and he broes it up to hell and back and it just does not FIT at all. Aardman is a very british company and while I don’t have anything against using a yank actor if it’s for contrast like say casting future abuser and anti-semite mel gibson as Rocky in Chicken Run,. As TERRIBLE as that turned out in hindsight, which to Aardman and Dreamworks credit they coudln’t of possibly seen coming, casting a big time american actory to play a very american rooster, who deliberatley contrasts the very british hens, works. Their TRYING to do that here, but it just dosen’t work, as while Vance Waggoner was set up as a kind of 50′s rockstar to contrast the 40′s setting... Belamy however is just...

That’s all. He’s the weakest part of the film as a result and feels very much like he was added soley because Sony wanted a bigger name in the cast.

So to one up Black Bodyspray, Pirate Captain tries looting a few ships to hilarious but unfruitful results. One was SUPPOSED to be a leper colony, but was changed to plauge boat as Aardman got backlash from the Leper Community, which they, like myself, likely didn’t realise still exist and I salute them for taking a backlash like that and changing it instead of just you know screaming NO YOUR WRONG like many often do. Aardman is a class act and while it was a low bar they cleared it.

Thankfully he gets thrown a bone as the next boat, while not having treasure, contains Charles freaking Darwin. And i’ve glossed over it till now, but yes, a CRITICAL character in this film is Charles Darwin. And as I said this was not only in the book, if in a diffrent form judging from wikipedia but spirals from mildly rediculous here to metting Karl Marks and the Captain romancing Mary Shelley. And given the books are fairly cheap, I will defintely be keeping an eye out for them at bookstores and possibly reviewing them in the future because they sound delightful as they are ridiculous.

Darwin nearly walks the plank because the Captain needs a pick me up after throwing a Tommy Wiseau style tantrum, but Darwin saves his own life, and gets drudged out of the sea after Suprisingly Curvacious PIrate jumps the gun and sends him overboard, by spotting Polly.. and revealing she’s a Dodo. The captain is understandably not receptive to showing her off at the science expo, not helped by it being in London, home of the Queen who hates pirates as much as the Marines in One PIece and is just as harsh towards them. But the promise of Untold Riches means the Captain decideds fuck it and they head to London. Darwin serves as the antagonist for this portion as the untold riches end up being an audience with the queen, and as such he keeps trying to either take Pirate Captain’s place or outright steal Polly for himself, being foiled by the fact that Pirate Captain is only HALF as stupid as he seems and thus either has clever counters to any way Darwin could present the bhird himsef, without realizing it no less, and foils a kidnapping attempt. I mean he’s still stubborn enough and stupid enough he can’t put two and two together that Charles wants the bird, to Number Two’s utter exasperation, but give him credit: Just because he’s an idiot dosne’t mean he’s not an experinced one as seen with refrences to previous adventures, from librarians to barbarians to that buisness in madagascar with an old pal they find hanging in a cage as a warning to pirates.

Naturally said prize leads to Pirate Captain being discovered after he refuses to hand over Polly to the queen as she’s family... for now, and only escapes decaptatation because he hid the parrot, with the queen leaving it to Darwin to steal the bird. We also get a great scene of Darwing taking the captain, who was publicly pardoned, out , including Captain talking about who would win in a fight between a shark and a dracula and instructing Jane Austen to write it into her next book. God I would pay to see that. Also for the record since i’m nerdy, as for who would win: Using a regular vampire and a regular shark, a shark as most vampires can’t cross water and thus likely if pushed will sink. If it’s Dracula versus, let’s say Jaws to make it a fair fight as Jaws is both a big boy and more intellegent than a regular shark, if not thatna dracula, it’s a bhit more complicated as Dracula can shapeshift, so he may be able to become a shark himself, or simply turn into a fish after using his vampire powers on him. He coudln’t really use wolf form or mist obviously because water, but I do feel Dracula would win as he could lure jaws to land and simply get in his mouth via a smaller transfomratoin then turn bigger and tear up his insides, or tear his ass to pieces with pure strength and skill then shark his way up to the surface.

Now we’ve covered the subject of Dracula fighting Jaws, and given Universal a VERY easy pitch for a jaws and dracula reboot, especially if Dracula rides Jaws at some point, Darwin says to hell with subtley and just tries to have his monkey Bobo threaten him at gunpoint. And Bobo is delight, a silent chimp who uses cards to talk, having to use one in lower caps to whisper and when noping out later leaving a trail of cards saying “Are you out of your #$@#%$ minds?”.

A chase ensues which ends up with them in the tower of london and in front of the queen who literally dumps poor charles. We even get a great bit where Captain undrestands doing crazy shit for a girl.. though is UTTERLY baffled in Charles lack of taste.

But soon is tempted by the ultimate shortcut to everything he wants: a shit ton of the queens gold in exchange for Polly.. and he gives her up, as he feels she’ll be fine. It’s also well done as while the protaganist doing something terrible and then it backfiring horribly for a short term gain is usualy in these movies this has been well set up: The captain has time and again chosen his own glory over the logical solution or his crew’s well being, and while it’s clear he loves them, it’s also clear he loves himself more and when choosing between the crew member he loves most (sorry Number Two) and his glory.. he picks the glory and looses everything: He has pirate of the year for all of a minute before Bellamy outs his pardon and BRIAN BLESSED STRIPS HIS TITLES, and the rest of the crew sadly abandon him. Even the use of the utterly great Flight of the Conchords song i’m not crying can’t undercut how sad it is. Again this is a pretty usual plot beat for a film.. but it’s been building all film. The pirate captain had been pushing his crew, just enough to make us not hate him but to be annoyed at him all the same, and they finally had enough. The captain, left with nothing and retiring to make baby clothes (And seeing Jane Austen hook up with the Elephant Man which is a crack ship I ddin’t know I needed), sees a sign of polly and realizes he NEEDS to save her.

The bad news, as Charles, now a “tramp”, horrifiedly relays is that Polly has been taken from the Zoo.. by the queen. As he found out shortly after being dumped into the trash, literally, and as made him realize what a selfish horny ass he’d been (Charles can be a bit annoying at times i’ll admit but suffers enough slapstick especially in the last act to punish him for his actions, so it evf3ens out), as it turns out the Queen just wants to eat Polly and is part of a cabal of world leaders who secretly eat endangered species. And i’d honestly be shocked if there wreen’t a club like that back then let alone in present day.

So the two go to steal the air ship to look down ladies tops save polly, and we get a heck of a third act as Uncle Sam reprsents america at the club. Yes really. It’s so stujpid I of course love it, stage a daring rescue and we get a GENUINELY tense fight between Captain and the Queen, who fucking dual wields. Thankfully darwin got the crew, who forgive captain since he’s making up for his actoins and they win the day, with The Queen ultimately sent away on a blimp while our heroes regain polly.

As a result all ends well for our heroes: The captain is given the highest bounty ever of 100,000 pounds and is left a world fugivitive, and as a result is not only welcomed back into pirate town, as seen thorugh a bunch of credits scenes set to you can get it if you really want, but is happier that way. Darwin heads to the galapagos and possibly finds love, Bobo stays with the crew and Black Broddude gets his trophy taken by Brain Blessed and his magical flying clamshell. The rest of the credits rock out to the utterly awesome song Alright by Supergrass which fun fact, lives in my head rent free thanks to these credits and did so at the time of the film.

So as you could probably guess I REALLY loved this film and the plot isn’t at all that serious and follows a pretty basic plot structure.. but it works because it’s just so damn creative and funny. It just throws tons of jokes at you, almost all of them clever ,and never really lets up for a moment. As a result there were WAY too many moments to recap here, from the Pirate Of the Year awards having BRIAN BLESSED as a vocal volume, to the mad scientest with a rubix cube who just throws it at the wall, to the ladies tops bit, there’s just so much here it’s great. The writing is witty, rapid fire and unabashidley ludcrious, not carring for period accuracy or common sense, just what’s funny and the actors all deliver it well.. again except piven. It’s the same kind of very british style as wallace and gromit but where as those films are subdued, this one goes full tilt bonkers and it works.

Animation wise it may be Ardman’s Prettiest Film and despite it having been years since they got to do a stop motion feature, they hadn’t missed a step: The anmiation is agonizlingly gorgeous, goofy enough to fit the tone but still beautiful and painstaking and in such a high resolution you can see it quite clearly how beautiful it looks. It’s the sum total of their efforts

So yeah... WATCH THIS FILM. It’s currently not streaming but can be gotten on amazon on dvd and on most digital platforms, and while that’s the us verison it at least has

So it’s not all bad. Find this film however you can and watch it. And if you enjoyed this review consider joining my patreon, dming me for my discord or following for more and see you tommorow for Muppet Treasure Island!

#pirates! in an adventure with scientests #pirates band of misfits #hugh grant #aardman #David Tennant #selma hayek #imelda staunton #BRIAN BLESSED #sony pictures animation

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incorrect-tmnt2012-quotes · 2 years

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Leo: I thought we agreed! No more thoughtless killing!

Raph: Of course, Leo. So I’ve thought this one through very thoroughly.

#incorrect tmnt quotes #source: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit #tmnt 2012 #tmnt #teenage mutant ninja turtles #leonardo #raphael

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incorrectbatfamquotes · 7 years

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Bruce Wayne: Jason! Hadn't we agreed: no more thoughtless killing?

#DC Comics #Bruce Wayne #Source: Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

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rabbitcruiser · 3 years

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National Dog Day

No one can win hearts like man’s best friend and in honor of this bond between man and canine, Dog Day is celebrated.

Take time to appreciate the love and value that dogs bring to our daily lives, and to do your bit for homeless and abused dogs the world over. From keeping us safe working for the emergency services to supporting people who are blind, deaf, or disabled, dogs do a lot for us humans, and this is an opportunity to give something back.

Learn about Dog Day

No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich.

Dog Day has been created so that all breeds of dogs are celebrated; mixed and pure. The day helps to galvanize the public so that they can recognise the number of dogs that must be rescued on a yearly basis, from pure breed rescuers, rescues, and public shelters.

The day is all about paying tribute to these incredible animals who work selflessly to bring comfort, keep us safe, and save lives. Every day, these animals put their lives on the line. There are dogs that protect our safety and freedom by detecting drugs and bombs, as well as those that pull victims from wreckages and tragic situations. Plus, we have dogs for the disabled, blind, and law enforcement. From these heroic dogs to our family friends, these dogs hold special places in our lives, and so it is only right that we honor them.

Amazing facts about dogs

Let’s take a look at some incredible facts about dogs to help you get a better understanding of these amazing creatures. Did you know, for example, that the most successful hunter in the world is the African Hunting Dog? These dogs are successful in 50 to 70 percent of their hunts. They even hold the Guinness World Record for it. Another Guinness World Record goes to the Saluki for being the oldest dog breed. This breed actually dates back to 329BC. Back then, in Ancient Egypt, these dogs were kept as Royal Pets. There are rumors that this breed can be traced back even further, as there are carvings located in the South of Iraq of a dog that looks very much like this breed and they can be dated back to 7,000 BC. Pretty incredible, right?

Did you know that dogs have three eyelids? This is something a lot of people do not realize about their furry friends. The third lid is a nictitating membrane, which is known as a haw. It is important for ensuring the eye is lubricated and protected. There are also some distinct features that are associated with specific breeds of dogs. For instance, Shar-Peis and Chow Chows have black tongues. Also, 30 percent of Dalmatians are deaf in one ear. Also, did you know that if a cheetah and a greyhound were to go head-to-head in a long-distance race, a greyhound would win? This is because greyhounds boast exceptional long-distance speeds. They can keep up a pace of 35mph for as long as seven miles.

Inspiring hero dogs

It is only right that we give a mention to some of the world’s most inspiring hero dogs in honor of Dog Day. In fact, this is something that we like to do every Dog Day – read up about tales where dogs have done incredible things – and we recommend that you do the same too. It can be incredibly eye-opening and very heartwarming.

Let’s begin with Killian, a Labrador Retriever who saved his little friend from prolonged abuse. Jordan and Benjamin Hope had hired a babysitter for their son after spending some time online researching. They were so confident with their selection that they decided to hire the babysitter for five months. However, Alexis Khan was not the incredible babysitter she made out to be. She would slap the baby and constantly scold him. The abuse would have gone on for at least five months if their dog, Killian, did not warn the couple. Whenever the babysitter would arrive, Killian would stick close to the baby and display aggressive behavior toward the babysitter. It caused concern, and the parents decided they would hide an iPhone underneath the sofa to record what was going on. This revealed everything, and if it was not for Killian, they would never have known.

Another amazing story is about a Golden Retriever called Toby. When his owner, Debbie Parkhurst, got a big chunk of apple lodged in her throat, she couldn’t get it out and had to beat her own chest to try and dislodge the apple, but to no avail. Her two-year-old Golden Retriever noticed her despair, and jumped up and down on her stomach to force the apple out, saving her life! There are plenty of other stories just like this only, so we definitely recommend giving them a read. You will be amazed.

History of Dog Day

The love of a dog is a pure thing. He gives you a trust which is total. You must not betray it.

You may be wondering who started this incredible day, and we have Colleen Paige to thank for it. Collen is an Animal Advocate and a Pet & Family Lifestyle Expert. The day marks the date she adopted her first family dog, Sheltie. The day has been adopted around the world, and it is even written into legislation in New York, showing just how important it is.

How to celebrate Dog Day

Recommendations for ways to celebrate Dog Day range from adopting a dog from a rescue home to giving your dog a holistic spa treatment or even buying yourself and your dog matching t-shirts.

The National Dog Day Foundation supports all breeds and varieties of dogs and discourages purchasing from unethical backyard breeders and puppy mills; instead, support reputable breeders or adopt from rescue homes.

Dog Day has been supported by such high profile individuals as former US President George W Bush whose own dog, Barney the Scottish terrier has his own website and has even starred in a series of short films. So celebrate dogs and their varied talents today, both by taking the time to treat the dogs in your own life and by supporting dogs in need.

You can also celebrate Dog Day by making a donation to an animal charity of your choice. You will probably find that you have a local dog charity or shelter in your local area. All you need to do is a quick search online, and you will discover more about the amazing charities out there that are doing incredible work. There are charities and rescue shelters for dogs without a home, as well as organizations that organize dogs for the deaf, as well as therapy dogs and guide dogs. Making a donation to one of these organizations can make a massive difference.

Of course, you may decide that the best way to do this is to fundraise. In order to fundraise, you purely need an idea that gets everyone involved so that awareness and money can be made. It does not have to be a complicated idea. This is why fun runs and bake sales are so effective. You simply need to make sure that you have something that the community can really get behind. Alternatively, you could decide to take on a challenge and ask people to sponsor you, such as a skydive or walking a certain distance. The options are endless.

It is worth mentioning that fundraising does not have to involve an event of any kind. There are plenty of other ways you can fundraise. For example, you may decide to get a T-shirt personalized and sell them. This could be a T-shirt with some sort of animal quote on it in honor of Dog Day. you could then donate all of the proceeds, or at least a percentage of them, to a dog charity or organization of your choosing.

It is not all about donating money, either. There are a lot of organizations that would appreciate your time just as much. Why not spend the day working with an animal charity or organization? If you are going to be able to donate more of your time in the future, we are sure that this would be greatly appreciated.

Needless to say, another great way to honor Dog Day would be to give a dog a home that really needs it. Your life really does change once you have a dog, and for the better! However, bringing a dog into the family is not for everyone and you may feel that you are not at the stage in your life whereby this is right for you. Plus, you may simply not be able to. Some landlords, for example, do not allow their tenants to have any pets in their homes. If this is the case, why not sponsor a dog instead? By doing this, you will donate a small amount of money per week or month and in return you will help to provide a dog with the home they deserve. You will get updates throughout the year so that you know what your money is going towards and how your dog is doing.

Another great way to spend Dog Day is by watching a dog movie. There are so many great films about dogs, so you should have no trouble finding one that you have not watched before. One of our favorites is the old-classic Old Yeller. If you have not seen this before, we definitely recommend watching it. It is an exemplary coming of age tale. You will go on an emotional journey as you understand the incredible bond between humans and their furry best friends. Of course, you can go for something more fun and less tear-jerking, such as 101 Dalmations. Some other films that we recommend looking into include Heart Of A Dog, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit, Lassie Come Home, Lady And The Tramp, Lassie, Isle Of Dogs, Togo, My Dog Tulip, Bolt, Sounder, The Incredible Journey, and Megan Leavey. The latter is about the bond between a young marine corporal and how she saves lives because of the bond she has with her military combat dog. It’s a great movie, and there are many, many more, so get the popcorn in and spend the day binging on some dog films.

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radramblog · 3 years

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Dreamworks Tier List

It’s a low effort post time!

I asked for a random tier list to do and this is what was handed to me. I can work with this. Time to ruin some people’s opinions of me.

Aight lets get this out of the way.

I’d consider watching some of these- Prince of Egypt and How to train your dragon 2/3 are apparently pretty good, and I’d watch The Croods for Nic Cage alone. But I think the bottom tier are just inexcusable, based off what I’ve seen and heard of trailers and opinions and reviews since their release. And Antz and Sinbad are movies I’ve definitely seen as like, a 5 year old, but I don’t know shit so I might as well not have.

Shit Tier

If you’ve seen the trailer for Madagascar 3, where Marty does the whole “da-da-dadadada-da-dada circus” for way to long, you’ve seen Madagascar 3. The rest of the movie is just as obnoxious and unfunny.

Similarly, Monsters vs Aliens is just devoid of anything resembling humour or intrigue. The most I remember is the scene of the President trying to communicate with the aliens by…playing Axel F? I remember it because at the time I was like holy shit a Crazy Frog reference, but that’s not something I like to acknowledge being a fan of these days.

Shark Tale is an abomination unto god, and that’s even before we get to how fucking weird it looks. It’s an entire fucking story built around the “liar revealed” plot, which is easily one of the most aggravating plot archetypes ever devised. Somehow it’s not the worst cinema Will Smith has been in, a fact that is frankly mind-boggling- but After Earth and the second half of Hancock still exist, so.

Bad Tier

Over the Edge was something I found entertaining as a kid, but I’m not sure why. It does have the climax sequence I did like, but that one blatant reference got a lot less funny when I realized it wasn’t original. For the life of me I don’t remember what the reference is to, but it’s some anime, you know.

Bee Movie is the source of some of the greatest memes of all time, and for that alone it gets a rescue from shit tier. But it’s so, so awful. I really don’t know who signed off this plot.

Madagascar was a series that only got worse as it went on. It didn’t start that good. At least this one has Moto Moto.

Shrek the Third is the worst Shrek, and it’s nooooot particularly close. I don’t remember a huge amount from it, but what I do remember wasn’t good. Why did they make Donkey fuck the dragon?

OK tier

Madagascar 1 was the best Madagascar, and in a surprising reversal of how this normally goes, managed to be significantly better than it’s Disney (?!) ripoff, Into the Wild. The one with the most genuine emotional moments, and the first one before they started shoving the Penguins and King Julien down everyone’s throat. Sidenote, did you know Julien is voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen??

Shrek Forever After somehow managed to be less bad than Shrek the Third, but it’s not like it was particularly good. It’s a wonderful life but it’s Shrek is more compelling than I would have expected, seeing as it does mean you have to have him actually acknowledge the development of his character. The framing of this, and the “comedy” therein, do not land.

Good Tier

For what it’s worth, I think Shrek is overrated. This doesn’t mean I think it’s bad, obviously, quite the opposite. It’s a parody that thankfully doesn’t rely too heavily on reference and gross-out humour, but manages to have the comedy actually land in a way I don’t think anyone at the time expected. But it’s really overshadowed by the sequel.

I basically don’t remember anything from How to Train your Dragon, but I’m pretty sure I’d get my throat slit if I put it any lower than this, so. It’s aight? Probably need to rewatch it, but you’d have to force me to do it.

I genuinely forgot the Wallace and Gromit movie, along with the other Aardman Animations films, ended up under the Dreamworks umbrella. I’d argue Curse of the Were-Rabbit is weaker than the original shorts, but considering how perfectly charming those are, that isn’t actually saying that much. Now that I think of it, have I ever watched this all the way through? It might be up here by pedigree alone.

Speaking of Aardman, Flushed Away is genuinely excellent comedy, and would probably be substantially higher if the main characters’ design didn’t weird me out. They’re a little too anthropomorphized.

Kung Fu Panda is best described by the Chinese film producer who said, “Why did we never make this film?” While I find Po somewhat obnoxious, the rest of the movie more than compensates.

Holy shit I need to go rewatch Megamind, that movie was so fucking good but I haven’t seen it since it came out. Somehow I remember a review of the Wii game in some magazine (34ish % iirc) better than I do that film, and that’s a genuine tragedy. I didn’t even realise that meme of the villain from like last year or so was actually from Megamind, aaarrgh.

Top Tier

Shrek 2 is a perfect sequel. It innovates on the parody elements, continues the story in an interesting way, and has genuinely good emotional moments with a frankly iconic climax. I’m not sure I have a single bad thing to say about it. It’s really, really good.

Chicken Run is another one where it’s hard to gush about. It’s just excellent Aardman Brothers animation combined with a solid premise and surprisingly dark elements, and all of those come together to make a genuinely top tier movie. One of the best animated films ever made? Maybe.

But El Dorado is better. What El Dorado feels like to me is the secret 5th member of that period where Disney was just putting out off-beat but excellent animated films- from when we got Lilo and Stitch, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Atlantis. The last glorious breaths of American 2D animation. It’s a peerless adventure film, on a similar stage as the better Indiana Jones films or the aforementioned Atlantis, while managing to be engaging for those of all ages. It’s got witty dialogue for days, and astonishing visuals and music. I don’t think Dreamworks has made a better movie than this, and I don’t think they ever will.

That image this list is using for it looks fucking awful though, holy shit.

#ramble #film

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wtfzodiacsigns · 4 years

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The Signs as Movie Soundtrack Emotions

*If you haven’t seen the movie, don’t watch it or read what it’s about yet. Just let the music get you. Listen via speakers because soundtracks often only take full effect when you listen to them at a certain volume*

Aries: Michael Giacchino – The Incredibles fierce will, intenseness unleashed, we were made for great things, look up and enjoy the wonders of earth, sizzling with joy, deep red wine, mysterious looks

Taurus: Alexandre Desplat – Fantastic Mr. Fox tenderness, silent fighting spirit, I can see through everything, forgiving you, don’t try to change me, as good as it gets, strolling to the forest, hands touching, wise eyes

Gemini: Eric Serra – The Fifth Element my mind is too big for this world, a pulsing humming swirl, hold me, shocked staring with empty eyes, shivers down the spine, sadness beyond dimensions

Cancer: Tom Tykwer – Cloud Atlas the end is near, boundless desire, fingertips touching face, a caged bird, seeking the reason, we will go through this together, broken eye contact, you don’t understand Leo: Hans Zimmer – The Simpsons Movie infinite adventure, sincerest of love, let me save you at the end of the world, star gazing and leaving the insignificant behind, facing doom

Virgo: John Powell & Harry Gregson-Williams – Chicken Run a taste of human incredibility, strongest yearning for freedom, I could lose everything, blood frenzy, inside emotions are killing me

Libra: Michael Giacchino – Super 8 you don’t have the faintest idea how much you mean to me, eyes meeting, sheer innocence, will I be okay?, afraid to lose you, the fondest of all smiles

Scorpio: Jerry Goldsmith – Fierce Creatures gracefulness, losing yourself in the darkness, ecstasy-like loneliness, craving for love, the knowledge of never being complete, I don’t need you (yes I do)

Sagittarius: Howard Ashman – Little Shop of Horrors bursting chest, it’s great to be human, my life counts, why not keep the faith?, I don’t think I’m worth it sometimes, losing hope – giving hope

Capricorn: John Powell – Ice Age: The Meltdown I will protect you, hiding fragility, remembering what’s been lost a long time ago, essentiality is my cause, stretch out your arms and spin around, we survived

Aquarius: Julian Nott – Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit I’m all powerful, hope, never-ending deep friendship, life is awesome, let me feel it, can’t hold back my heart, on the move, anticipation

Pisces: Hans Zimmer – Interstellar life in fast motion, exploding mind, you will never get me, time is slipping through my fingers, you don’t know the pain, holding on, healing hugs, menacing roar

Source: zodiac-queens

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88connoruca88 · 4 years

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Aardman Animation

31/1/2020 - Aardman is a British stop-motion animation studio, based in Bristol. Aardman is known for their stop-motion clay animation films, especial their most famous films featuring Plasticine characters Wallace and Gromit.

Their stop motion films are among the highest-grossing stop-motion films of all time and their debut film, “Chicken Run” (2000), is one of their top-grossing films, as well as the highest-grossing stop-motion film of all time.

One of their first well know stop-motion animation is “Morph”, which was inspired by a segment they had called "Greeblies" (1975) using clay animation.

Aardman has also created:

- Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)

- A Close Shave (1995)

- Flushed Away (2006)

- The Wrong Trousers (1993)

- A Grand Day Out (1989)

And many, many more.

Source: - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aardman_Animations

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wallace_and_gromit.jpg

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ramajmedia · 5 years

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Which Iconic DreamWorks Character Are You, Based On Your MBTI

Frequently overshadowed by more well-known studios such as Pixar and Disney, DreamWorks is the unsung genius behind several fan-favorite, childhood-defining films. DreamWorks movies tend not to be as big and over-the-top as that of Disney's, and DreamWorks certainly doesn't receive as much appreciation as it deserves.

This film company was the mastermind behind Shrek, the brilliance behind Wallace And Gromit, and the true genius that brought you How To Train Your Dragon.

It's time to give DreamWorks some appreciation. Let's take a look at some of the most iconic characters from the studio, their personalities and MBTI alignments, and see which one you'd be, based on your MBTI.

10 Spirit (Spirit: Stallion Of The Cimarron) - INTJ (The Mastermind)

When considering iconic films that probably shaped your childhood, Spirit is far too often overlooked. Disregarding the recent Netflix series based on the film, this beautifully animated movie was heartwarming and unforgettable.

RELATED: 25 Disney and DreamWorks Voice Actors That Look (Almost) Exactly Like Their Characters

Spirit, the titular lead horse, went on a captivating journey in this film. Narrated by Matt Damon, Spirit broke the mold of several animated animal movies in favor of portraying the horses in a realistic way. Spirit was shown to have a personality identical to that of a INTJ; he had a strong sense of personal integrity and a drive to help others.

9 Eep Crood (The Croods) - ENTJ (The Commander)

The Croods hit theaters in 2013. Following the lives and adventures of a family of cavemen and featuring an all-star cast that included Emma Stone and Nicholas Cage, the film was a significant success. Eep was the lead of the movie, and her storyline revolved around seeking change in her lifestyle and discovering a better world.

RELATED: 20 Wild Details About The Making Of DreamWorks Cartoon Movies

Nothing quite captures Eep's essence better than the description of a ENTJ; she was a strategic leader, motivated to organize a major change in her family's lives. She was the only one who saw the inefficiency of the caveman lifestyle and she conceptualized a new solution.

8 Toothless (How To Train Your Dragon) - ISFJ (The Protector)

Toothless was unarguably the most iconic character to come from How To Train Your Dragon. The film was a massive hit, released in theaters in 2010 and quickly spawning a franchise of its own. Toothless is one of the most beloved characters that DreamWorks ever created.

RELATED: 10 DreamWorks Logic Memes That Are Too Hilarious For Words

Being a goofy, loving companion to Hiccup, Toothless' personality best fits the ISFJ category. This sweet, lovable dragon is at heart, a fierce protector. Toothless is practical, compassionate, and caring, as well as a wonderful caretaker.

7 RJ (Over The Hedge) - ESFP (The Performer)

In 2006, Bruce Willis and Steve Carell humorously starred in Over The Hedge, a film that was inspired by a simple little comic strip. The movie brought the characters and setting to life in a spectacular way, and Over The Hedge is often regarded as one of DreamWork's underrated gems.

RELATED: The 10 Best DreamWorks Animated Movies Of All Time, According To IMDb

RJ is best known for being a shamelessly opportunistic raccoon. He's the leader of the rest of the animals and thinks of himself as being quite superior. RJ fits the description of a ESFP; he is energetic and fun, as well as spontaneous and engaging.

6 Princess Fiona (Shrek) - INFP (The Healer)

Today, Shrek is still regarded as one of the best animated films ever made. Enjoyable for both children and adults alike, the film (and its multiple sequels) is a fun, entertaining watch. Fiona was a fiery red haired princess who lived in Far Far Away with her parents. That is, until a curse was cast on her, causing her to take the form of an ogre at twilight.

Fiona had a freshly complex, multidimensional personality. She was first portrayed as a stereotypical princess, but later on in the film, her true colors came to light. Fiona best fits the description of a INFP; she is loyal, independent, and an imaginative idealist.

5 Shrek (Shrek) - ENFP (The Champion)

Before he met Fiona, Shrek was just your typical swamp ogre who spent the majority of his time scaring villagers. As the film goes on, he meets his future best friends, Donkey and Puss in Boots, and of course, the love of his life, Fiona.

RELATED: 1o Perfect Gifts For The Shrek Fan In Your Life

Shrek's evolution throughout the film series is undeniably an unforgettable one. He goes from living a lonely, solitary lifestyle to being a happy husband and father. Shrek has an ideal ENFP personality; he is energetic, warm, and passionate, as well as having a contagious enthusiasm.

4 Roddy (Flushed Away) - ISTP (The Composer)

Flushed Away was a 2006 film in which Hugh Jackman voiced the lead character, Roderick St. James. Roddy was portrayed as being ridiculously pampered and catered to by his owners, yet quite lonely. He lived a solitary lifestyle and was fairly isolated in the English apartment which he took up residence.

The film's concept revolved around Roddy's eventually rebelling against his wealthy family when he gets flushed down the toilet. He meets new friends and his true colors begin to come out. Roddy fits the description of a ISTP; he lives in the present moment and becomes quite cheerful and spontaneous.

3 Po (Kung Fu Panda) - INFJ (The Counselor)

Po's journey and evolution is certainly one of the most beloved and popular of any DreamWorks character. Living his early life as a modest, humble, and unrelentingly enthusiastic worker at his parents' noodle shop, Po set his sights on bigger dreams: kung fu.

RELATED: 10 Voices We Forgot Were Behind Our Favorite Animated Movies

Po was portrayed as being brave, gentle, and unwaveringly kind. He best suits the alignment of a INFJ, as he has a genuine passion and talent for helping others.

2 Barry B. Benson (The Bee Movie) - ESTP (The Dynamo)

People's views and reactions to The Bee Movie still vary to this day, despite the fact that the film was released twelve years ago. The Bee Movie was and still is considered to be quite the anomaly, and it undeniably made its mark, disregarding how utterly strange and ludicrous it was.

RELATED: 20 Ridiculous DreamWorks Fan Theories (That Could Actually Be True)

Barry B. Benson was portrayed as being an unapologetic rebel. He grows tired of the mundane life of a bee and decides to dream bigger. He heads the big city and sets his sights on the exciting lifestyle of a human. Being an energetic thrill-seeker and brimming with unbridled ambition, Barry the Bee best fits the description of a ESTP.

1 Wallace (Wallace And Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit) - INTP (The Architect)

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse Of The Were-Rabbit was probably the most unique, quirky film that DreamWorks ever produced. It's a breath of fresh air, and was artfully crafted with claymation and stop-motion. Wallace was the main character of the film, along with his pet dog, Gromit.

Wallace was an inventor. He was a true INTP due to his analytical personality and philosophical demeanor.

NEXT: 10 Movies You Didn't Realize Were Made By DreamWorks

source https://screenrant.com/dreamworks-character-iconic-mbti/

#screenrant

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incorrectlooneytunesquotes · 7 years

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You can hop, but you can't hide!

Sylvester to Hippety Hopper

#sylvester #hippety hopper #source: wallace and gromit: curse of the were-rabbit

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downordic-blog · 5 years

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Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Cheese-loving eccentric Wallace and his cunning canine pal, Gromit, investigate a mystery in Nick Park's animated adventure, in which the lovable inventor and his intrepid pup run a business ridding the town of garden pests. Using only humane methods that turn their home into a halfway house for evicted vermin, the pair stumble upon a mystery involving a voracious vegetarian monster that threatens to ruin the annual veggie-growing contest.

--(GENERAL)--- Container.......: Matroska Size............: 19.5 GiB Duration........: 01:24:59 (h:m:s) Source(s).......: Blu-ray 1080p AVC DTS-HD MA 5.1 - PCH (thanks!) EUR Blu-ray 1080p AVC DTS-HD MA 5.1 - OLDHAM (thanks!) Chapters........: Yes (not named) Compression.....: no zlib, no header stripping Release date....: 14.06.2019 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0312004/ ---(VIDEO)---- Codec...........: AVC Type............: progressive Resolution......: 1920x1080 Bit rate........: 28.7 Mb/s Frame rate......: 23.976 fps ---(AUDIO)---- Format..........: DTS-HD MA / DTS Channels........: 5.1 / 5.1 Bit depth.......: 24 bits Sample rate.....: 48 kHz Bit rate........: 3855 kbps / 1509 kbps Language........: English -(SUBTITLES)-- Format..........: PGS (original) Language(s).....: English (SDH), Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Spanish (Castilian), Spanish (Latin American), Swedish Read the full article

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63824peace · 4 years

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Sunday, 23rd of october 2005

I went to the office after lunch yesterday, but I took a day off from writing the blog. I just didn't feel like writing. The sun finally shone this morning, so I decided to start working on HIDEOBLOG.

I saw the film Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It's showing as a special guest film at the Tokyo International Film Festival at the Hills. I also wanted to see Kamen Rider: THE FIRST. Unfortunately it was showing at the same time in the next theater. I chose my beloved Wallace & Gromit instead.

I heard that Kamen Rider: THE FIRST will show in the theater during November. I'll make a point of going then.

The curtain finally rose just before 11 A.M. Wallace & Gromit's father Nick Park gave the introductory speech! Oh, it was real! Nick Park in the flesh! I was so moved.

Then Wallace and Gromit followed him onto the stage! They were quite big . . . and of course they weren't made out of clay.

Nick Park gave an interview while standing between Wallace and Gromit on the stage. The whole affair was congenial and amiable from start to finish. My suspicions were confirmed, too: the director has a distinct Londoner's accent.

Two weeks ago I heard that the warehouse of Aardman Animations burned down to the ground, taking with it thirty year's worth of cinematic treasure. Yet, despite my fears, Nick Park appeared on stage and seemed to be in high spirits.

The much-anticipated new Wallace & Gromit film lasts ninety minutes! It is a long one indeed.

The film was an absolute delight. It was so fun. Gromit took the lead this time, and the theater audience applauded warmly. They were huge Gromit fans like me.

An International Film Festival typically targets mature audiences, but many families with children attended the show nonetheless. Wallace & Gromit is so popular that I expect Japan's reaction will follow England's lead. The film was ranked #1 at the box offices in both Europe and the United States.

Wallace & Gromit has finally become popular in the United States. It will show in all the Japanese theaters beginning March 1, 2006. I will go and see it again next spring.

I would really like to hear Kin-chan dub Wallace's character in the Japanese version.

I saw Rupert-san's name among the film's credits. He seems to have contributed to the film's music. He is Harry Gregson-Williams' younger brother. Harry-san's latest work is featured in the film Domino, which also looks like a great movie.

Universal Studios produced the video game for Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit. It has already been released in Europe and the United States. It so happens that Konami has the distribution rights for the game's global release. The game's Japanese release will coincide with the film's theatrical debut.

I played Wallace & Gromit a bit during August's GC Show in Leipzig. I had a good feeling about it then.

The game still carries the warmth of the film's claymation style, yet it is entirely digitally rendered. I'm confident that it holds a lot of promise. I anticipate the Japanese release.

I first discovered Wallace & Gromit when I saw the second film titled The Wrong Trousers. My son and I have been huge fans ever since. I have never missed a Wallace & Gromit exhibition, and I have bought almost all of the merchandise. I own all of the DVDs, and to this date anyone who walks past my work booth can see the remainder of my personal collection.

For ten years I have thought, "I want to make a Wallace & Gromit video game." I was naturally pretty shocked when the distributor told me about the game's release. I felt envious . . . I doubted the game's quality but felt relieved after playing it. The game is well-crafted and it won't tarnish the reputation established by the films.

I have two animated series in mind to transform into video games. One is Wallace & Gromit; the other is Tom & Jerry.

It's wonderful to develop a game for which you wrote the story yourself. I expect that it would also be interesting to develop a game out of someone else's imaginative world. I would need to express another person's creative talent. I'd like to experience that one day.

At lunch someone asked me, "You're working today as well?" I hid my embarrassment and answered, "Oh, I'm just here for the movie." It's really embarrassing when people perceive me as a workaholic.

I took care of sundry tasks in the office. I prepared for my upcoming conference, responded to some mail, and performed various other small tasks.

When I returned home I finished reading Eiichi Ikegami's novel Shangri-La, published by Kadokawa Shoten Publishing Co., Ltd. It was really interesting. It's legitimate science fiction.

This is the type of science fiction that my generation dreamed about and longed to claim as our own. It's the type of writing that excited us, moved us, and enlightened us in the past.

Overall the novel had really good settings. The environments were very elaborate and full of ideas. This is essentially where science fiction finds its charm.

The science fiction story requires that the effects of its setting be established before the storytelling begins. These effects include the narrative establishment of technology and the futuristic society, as well as the imaginative gimmicks and relationships.

Those were the characteristics of my generation's idea of science fiction.

"The Carbon Society!" "Teknology!" It was all really witty.

We exhausted most imaginative material like global warming back in the 70's, but Ikegami's novel treats that material in a fresh way.

I actually had a similar plot somewhere in my backlog of ideas. I got the idea from a news article dated three or four years ago. The article's text read:

"Developing nations have agreed to limit the overall emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Thanks to the Kyoto Protocol however, nations and industries can now barter for the rights on carbon dioxide emissions.

"The principles of the market exchange that started in 19th century Chicago have finally become applied to the exchange of business eco-rights. We are now ready to deal with ecological issues according to the ideology of marketplace mechanisms."

I used this article as a tip and imagined a project based on carbon dioxide emissions within business eco-rights. The story focused on the confrontations between global analysts, national agents, corporations, and mafia organizations behind the scenes of a futuristic carbon dioxide exchange market. Its themes were economic issues and the wars that resulted after petroleum ceased to serve as a viable fuel source.

At the same time I had planned to incorporate terrestrial and oceanic burial methods of carbon dioxide disposal. These methods of waste disposal have been studied extensively.

I don't know if Mr. Eiichi Ikegami used the same news article as a tip. I'll simply bury my old idea for good since such an interesting novel already exists.

My generation's science fiction aesthetics really came around in the 1960's before fantasy became a popular genre. Our sci-fi aesthetic defined a new type of literature that focused on the social aspects of technology. Our aesthetic became converted into movies and then into anime, according to the times. Our science fiction has returned to us in the forms of these new media.

Our aesthetic themes include criticism intending to benefit our civilization, race, and society; an imaginative idea given historical context; a warning for the future; the succession of a new generation to adulthood; and a positive message. The success of the aesthetic doesn't rely anymore upon an original perspective on the future. The vivid manga-type characters enhance the stories and make them more effective.

Ikegami's female characters are incredibly strong. The main characters include Kuniko (the heroine), Momoko, Sayoko, Ryoko, Mina, Karin, Miiko, Nagiko, and so on. One member in the group is a new-half: a transsexual man whose operation procedure is only half complete. At any rate, these women go wild and take action in ways that outshine some action movies. The novel's second half really speeds along! It has enough power and momentum to carry readers to the end in only one sitting!

Shangri-La is a story about Tokyo that could only have been written by a Japanese person. The novel makes its reader feel the essences of Tokyo, the present moment, and the Earth. It is also a bold, audacious novel that makes us reflect upon Japan. It simultaneously delivers Hollywood entertainment while it takes complex narrative turns. I didn't know that anyone could write a novel like this.

Japanese literary culture isn't hopeless, even though it's currently flooded with self-improvement books. Shangri-La is only a novel, but I would like to see it adapted as a movie. I would prefer to see it rendered as animation rather than live action. I can't imagine showing the true charm of the characters using only live action shots.

Does Shangri-La exists in our world? The answer is no, of course. As Kuniko and the others discovered when they awakened, Shangri-La doesn't exist unless we seek it. We create our own Shangri-La.

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biofunmy · 5 years

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35 Movies To Stream On HBO This July

Check out the full list of titles coming to HBO this July below!

Starting July 1

The A-Team

A Nightmare on Elm Street

American Nightmares

An Ideal Husband

By the Sea

Cyrus

Dead Man on Campus

Doppelganger

Elektra

The Hoax

I, Robot

Justice League

Keeping Up with the Steins

Little Fockers

The Manchurian Candidate

Me, Myself & Irene

The Mother

Mr. Right

MXP: Most Xtreme Primate

Notting Hill

The Ring Two

Rush Hour 2

Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero

Term Life

Victor Crowley

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

When We Were Kings

Without a Paddle

July 5

Thoroughbreds

July 6

Bohemian Rhapsody

July 13

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

July 20

First Man

July 23

Red Sparrow

July 27

Widows

Sahred From Source link TV and Movies

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#IFTTT #WordPress

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imissgrantland · 5 years

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The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Hulu in July

Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country, Widows, and Veronica Mars are coming to streaming this month. Source: The Best Movies and TV Shows Coming to Netflix, HBO, Amazon Prime, and Hulu in July

View On WordPress

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georgesmithstopmotion · 6 years

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Stop Motion Research

27/04/18

What is it?

Stop motion animation, also known as stop frame animation is a type of animation that is captured one frame at a time, with physical objects that are moved between frames. When you play this image sequence back, it will create the illusion of movement if done properly. Stop motion animation is rather similar to 2D drawn animation, except you use physical objects instead of drawings of course.

Common Materials and Forms of Stop Motion Animation

When creating stop motion animation, you’ll of course need some real materials/objects. Some commonly used materials/objects are clay, which was used in some of the most prevalent stop motion feature length films, such as Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run. This is a very widely used form of stop motion as with clay, you can mold a figure into whatever position you want, so it’s very flexible and easy to move. Another prominent type of stop motion animation would be puppet animation, which utilizes the animation of still puppets. It’s very similar to claymation, as the characters and sets already full forms instead of being made while the animation is being shot. Cut-out animation is a somewhat popular form of stop motion animation, which uses flat characters, props and backgrounds cut out from various materials such as cardboard. A form of stop motion animation that I found whilst researching types and materials used in stop motion animation was a form called ‘pixilation’ and is apparently one of the more difficult forms of stop motion animation. In this form, live actors change their movement in each frame of the animation. They pose while multiple frames are taken and the position changes slightly in each frame. Back to forms which I recognize, object animation, which as you could guess, utilizes objects found in daily life, or not. The final form of stop motion that I researched is ‘silhouette’ animation, which involves characters who are only visible as black silhouettes. This is usually accomplished by back-lighting detailed cardboard cut-outs, though other methods exist. It is partially inspired by shadow play.

Technical Methods Used in Stop Motion Animation

When filming stop motion, a lot of things need to be taken in to consideration, such as the lighting - if the lighting isn’t appealing, and doesn’t compliment the form of stop motion animation that you’re going for, then it could completely ruin your work. A studio is a nice thing to have, but of course, not everyone just has access to one. So if you’re filming indoors, then you’ll need to consider where the light source is coming from, and if it’s outside, then make sure to pick a day which is suitable for your specific animation. Another important aspect to consider when filming for stop motion is the camera, and its settings. Which settings will you use? Macro will be useful if you want to film things which are close to the lens. If you’re filming inside, then a stable platform will be needed, such as a table or something, so that your setup and shot won’t move from frame to frame in your video. If you’re filming a short stop motion animation, then you’ll most likely need to stabilize your camera in one place, so that it won’t be moving anywhere, and you don’t have to hold it with your shaky hands. Also make sure to consider frame rate. Of course, having more frames per second will make for a smoother animation, but having a lower frame rate could make for a cool effect.

Stop Motion Animated Films

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Directed by Henry Selick, this movie took 15 animators almost three years to make. Working with more than 227 puppets, they completed just one minute of the film a week. It actually started in 1982, when Tim Burton wrote it as a poem. I think that The Nightmare Before Christmas was a very important movie which has definitely influenced stop motion animation after it. This movie used puppets and props.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr6N_hZyBCk

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) Directed by Wes Anderson, this movie took roughly three years for to create, although actual development of the film began in 2004. Fantastic Mr. Fox was a fantastic movie, it’s actually one of my favourites of all time, and I think that it was incredibly well made. The soundtrack was excellent, and of course, so was the animation. There was just something about it which gave it a real uniqueness. This movie was also made using puppets and props, made completely from scratch.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2igjYFojUo

Alice (1988) Directed by Jan Svankmajer, unfortunately, I couldn’t find how long it took to create this movie, although watching some videos and judging by the length of the movie (86 minutes), I would assume that it took about a year at most. It’s a loose adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), which I’ve never read nor watched, but I know it’s revered as one of the most influential series out there. This movie uses puppets and props, a very common technique a while back.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MLafk3imk4

Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) Directed by Steve Box and Nick Park, this movie took about 15 months to make, and just over one second of film is photographed for each day of production. This is another one that I’ve seen, and I have to say that it was very enjoyable and I could see that every single frame was masterfully created and filled with detail. Alongside Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers was also a superb movie, also with incredible detail. One of my favourite scenes from this one has to be the train scene. These two movies utilize claymation, one of the more prominent stop motion animation techniques.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXYNHHj4KDw

Train Scene https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrmZIgVoQw4

The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926) Directed by Lotte Reiniger, I unfortunately again couldn’t find the precise time taken to create it, but at 65 minutes long going at 24 frames/s, I would assume that it didn’t take more than a year, although, maybe, since this was 1926. Speaking of, after researching it a little, I found that it looks very visually unique, for its time, and I’m sure that this definitely formed the foundation for many great stop motion animations to come after it. The stop motion animation technique used for this movie was undoubtedly silhouette animation.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25SP4ftxklg

Chicken Run (2000) Directed by Peter Lord and Nick Park, who also directed Wallace and Gromit, this movie took around 3 and a half years to make, and each puppet cost around £3,000 to make. Another of the movies that I’ve watched, I think that it is, much like Wallace and Gromit, an excellent example of stop motion which you can just tell how long this took, and how much effort went into creating it. This was without a doubt created using claymation.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVdlxwX6A7g

Consuming Spirits (2012) Directed by Chris Sullivan, this movie was a decade’s work for writer, director, animator, musician and voice artist Chris Sullivan and his small team. Running 136 minutes and encompassing more than 230,000 individual frames, this movie seems incredibly well-made, incorporating cutout animation, stop-frame, and pencil sketches, which is very impressive, utilizing various different stop motion techniques.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xXAPZ7Hybo

Mary and Max (2009) Directed by Adam Elliot, the principal photography lasted over 57 weeks, using 133 separate sets, 212 puppets, and 475 minature props, including a fully functioning Underwood typewriter, which apparently took nine weeks to design and build. After researching this movie and watching the trailer for it, I must say, I am personally interested in it, so I may have to check it out some point soon. The plot seems interesting and dark, and I found out that it’s based on a true story, and that the character of Max was inspired by a pen-friend in New York who Elliot had been writing to for over twenty years. This was done using claymation, so already, I have huge respect for the team behind it.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgRjB8PEDkM

Heaven and Earth Magic (1962) Directed by Harry Smith, I couldn’t find the time taken to create this, what with it being over 60 years old, but at a length of 66 minutes, and after watching videoes, I would speculate that it took probably less than half a year. Personally, it didn’t really interest me, but there’s no doubt that it’s played a part in stop motion’s journey through the decades, so I respect it for that. It looks as though it was made using cutout animation, which is an impressive feat, as I’d imagine that it’s difficult to make cutout look good, and not strange and out of place.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ne6dXa2Y3k

Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Directed by Don Chaffey, I couldn’t find the length of time taken, but at 101 minutes long, and watching videos of it and its difference, compared to the others I’ve written about, it seems that it took about maybe a year at most. This movie was created using stop-frame animation, and despite it looking cheesy now, this is some great work for something that was made half a century ago, when this would have been a very difficult thing to do, what with very limited technology.

Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5uzwh4pLmQ

Stop-Motion Artists

Alexandre DUBOSC - ‘Food about you’ (29 April 2010)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7vGvVMQnXo

This stop motion animation looks as though it was created using food, mainly sweets, as well as scientific instruments, such as boiling tubes and petri dishes. There’s even a syringe used in the video. At the beginning of the animation, sweets were placed in scientific instruments as if to portray them as bad or harmful, and the egg which comes out of the pill near the start which then gets used in the making of a birthday cake could imply that these sweet things that we all enjoy are simply masking what is actually inside. I really like the idea of food being inanimate objects and vice versa, especially the chocolate laptop which uses pieces of chocolate as the keyboard, I think that was very intuitive and original. I also really liked the beginning with the camera pan of the sweets. As to what I didn’t like so much, I would say that the part process of making the cake didn’t look very appealing to me, with the mixing and cutting up the butter.

Christopher Kezelos - ‘Zero’ (25 May 2011)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOMbySJTKpg

This stop motion animation looks extremely well-made, with every scene including so much detail. The characters look like they were created with string and cut up clothing perhaps. The backgrounds and scenes look as though they used many different materials but the most prominent-looking material is probably cloth or something like that. This short is communicating a clear message in that no matter what qualities you are judged by, in this case, what number that you’re defined by, courage, love and determination will prevail in the end. I really like this concept and I think that it is quite unique and original. As well as the overall theme, I of course really like the animation itself. All of the puppets and scenes are beautifully crafted and the movement is very fluid. I also liked the conclusion a lot. I can’t think of anything I dislike about this short without nitpicking, but some scenes may be a little too dark, even if that was intended.

PES - ‘Western Spaghetti’ (5 July 2008)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBjLW5_dGAM

This is a very popular short created by PES, a well-known creator in the stop motion scene. I had already seen this before, and remembered it as one of the best shorts that I’ve seen. As for the materials used, it’s obvious that the majority of the materials used are everyday items, as well as arts and crafts supplies it seems. I don’t really think it’s communicating a specific message, and it’s probably safe to enjoy it at face value. It’s just a demonstration of very good animation skill and creativity. There’s a lot that I like about this short, especially the scene where money is literally growing on a tree, I think this was a very good idea. Every scene in fact was innovative and works really well. The animation was very fluid and looked very natural. Again, there’s barely anything that I dislike about it, but I think that maybe the whole thing could be extended by adding in some more things to represent food. Maybe the drink shown at the end could’ve been shown being poured out, I’m not sure what the liquid could be though.

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