Start off your evening with Neil Nadelman's TOTALLY LAME ANIME! Starting at 8pm in the Grand Ballroom.
Followed immediately by Dave Merrill's Anime HELL at 10pm!
And if you're still in one piece by Saturday check out Daryl Surat's Panel of Doom! 9pm in the William's Ballroom. Followed by Anime's Craziest Deaths!
So, that's, what, 8 hours of video clip show fun? 8 freakin' hours! Somebody better get some photos of all this...
Friday, September 30, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
RIP, Mr. Peppermint
If you were a kid growing up in DFW during the nineteen mumble-mumbles, then you probably watched some Mr. Peppermint. The show ran for over thirty years and was one of (if not the) longest running locally produced children's show.
Like any local kids' show, it was weird.
More...
There's actually a Gaylord hotel just north of DFW, but I don't think that's where this lion got his name. It's nice that he does not like the word "war" but is very willing to explain that ward is where kids in the hospital stay.
Actually, Gaylord was kind of a dick.
And then Dr. Laserbreath, who was no Julius Sumner Miller, if you catch my drift.
Speaking of amusing German accents....
The show had a tendency to make lame jokes.
Be aware, "planes flying overhead" is a "sound of nature".
If you never watched Mr. Peppermint, this should at least give you an idea what he could produce.
Mr. Peppermint died this morning, from complications due to Parkinson's. It's been years since I watched him, but I'll still miss him.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Maaaaaaaaaah jong!
What we're missing here is cultural reference.
The "thirteen divinities" spoken of in this hand are the thirteen orphans: a one and nine from each suit, one each of the winds, and one each of the dragons. "Raising Sun" is a variant of this with an extra one of bamboo. The extra tile is a "dora", or extra tile and counts for points.
(I'll do my best to not think about Dr. Who during this.)
Say what?
More...
The ron the Chinese score is a series of pairs. Dora dora is the two fives. It is followed by another set of pairs. Then two runs, two triplets, and a pair (eyes). Then a run, three triplets, and a pair (honorifics: winds). The "only richi" is a run, a triplet, a run, a triplet, and a pair. The ron that wins the game is, again, the thirteen orphans with the one discs as a dora, or extra tile.
Mao's kan brings him closer to a hand called jade dragon, a pair, a pair, a triplet, a triplet, all four green dragons, with a two of bamboo as the dora. Mao plays three pairs, and two triplets, all green. He follows with four triplets and 3, 4, 6 of bamboo. All green. Koizumi plays a pair of green dragons, a triplet of bamboo sixes, a run of 1 2 3 bamboo and triplet three, but Mao plays a pair of bamboo three. Koizumi plays the 4 bamboo, completing the run. Again, the rising sun is the thirteen orphans (with a red dragon as dora).
That is, of course, before they all fight Hitler.
One of the things we're really missing out on is the automatic mah jong tables.
It would seem there's a whole host of mah jong anime out there.
Маугли (1973)
What did she say?
More...
"O Akela, and ye the Free People," she purred, "I have no right in your assembly, but the Law of the Jungle says that if there is a doubt which is not a killing matter in regard to a new cub, the life of that cub may be bought at a price. And the Law does not say who may or may not pay that price. Am I right?"
"Good! Good!" said the young wolves, who are always hungry. "Listen to Bagheera. The cub can be bought for a price. It is the Law."
"Knowing that I have no right to speak here, I ask your leave."
"Speak then," cried twenty voices.
"To kill a naked cub is shame. Besides, he may make better sport for you when he is grown. Baloo has spoken in his behalf. Now to Baloo's word I will add one bull, and a fat one, newly killed, not half a mile from here, if ye will accept the man's cub according to the Law. Is it difficult?"
There was a clamor of scores of voices, saying: "What matter? He will die in the winter rains. He will scorch in the sun. What harm can a naked frog do us? Let him run with the Pack. Where is the bull, Bagheera? Let him be accepted." And then came Akela's deep bay, crying: "Look well—look well, O Wolves!"
"Ay, roar well," said Bagheera, under her whiskers, "for the time will come when this naked thing will make thee roar to another tune, or I know nothing of man."
"It was well done," said Akela. "Men and their cubs are very wise. He may be a help in time."
"Truly, a help in time of need; for none can hope to lead the Pack forever," said Bagheera.
Akela said nothing. He was thinking of the time that comes to every leader of every pack when his strength goes from him and he gets feebler and feebler, till at last he is killed by the wolves and a new leader comes up—to be killed in his turn.
"Take him away," he said to Father Wolf, "and train him as befits one of the Free People."
And that is how Mowgli was entered into the Seeonee Wolf Pack for the price of a bull and on Baloo's good word.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Ecco (1965)
Back in August, I read that Gualtiero Jacopetti had died. It's okay if you don't know who that was.
Back in the 60s, a new kind of film came out that was meant to shock its audience. Mondo Cane (Dog's World) was the first of these, followed closely by the uncreatively titled Mondo Cane 2 and a slew of other Mondo films.
One film in the Mondo genre is ECCO, which means "Behold!" The version I watched is narrated by George Sanders, a man with a bizarre sense of humor. Also, he was the first voice of Shere Khan in The Jungle Book (all others being voiced by Tony Jay).
The last thing you need to know about Mr. Sanders is that he committed suicide. He left the following note:
Dear World, I am leaving because I am bored. I feel I have lived long enough. I am leaving you with your worries in this sweet cesspool. Good luck.After watching ECCO, I see why the ordinary world bored him.
Now, let's see....
Friday, September 16, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Before "Toy Story", there was "THE BRAVE LITTLE TOASTER"
"Why, if only we were all wiener dogs, our problems would be solved!"
The trip to Mars was not as successful.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
They're G-R-R-REAT!
A look at Tony through his illustrious years of keeping secrets, encouraging athletics and other cornball shenanigans!
More...
Tony... the feline of distinction!
Tony... the family man!
Tony, the international peacekeeper!
Thurl... The voice of a tiger!
Monday, September 12, 2011
La dama y la muerte
La dama y la muerte from Derecho a Morir Dignamente on Vimeo.
Best part? Cerberus.
Tape Generations
Tape Generations from johan rijpma on Vimeo.
I worked on this project for about 6 months. I tried many different compositions and then made a selection. A single composition could take more than 12 hours to develop/breakdown.I'm a huge fan of stop-action animation, but I'm not sure how I feel about this piece. It's very pretty, yes, and the sound-effect is nice and creepy, but I don't think he got to the point he was trying to make. It feels like the dream sequence of a larger film.
(the spinning of the plate was done by hand, turnin the plate about 0,4 degree's every 30 seconds, this meant i was standing in the wind and the rain for hours watching the tape "grow" and watching the sun come up/go down)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Friday, September 09, 2011
The Monkey King Animated Rap Musical
Alexis Gideon Video Musics II: Sun Wu-Kong Official Trailer from alexis gideon on Vimeo.
Not the one you may be thinking of.Wednesday, September 07, 2011
No, Grandma. It's called "the Internet".
Yeah, and you thought the switch to digital TV was bad. Apparently, we really had trouble with the idea of dialing numbers, as opposed to telling the operator who we wanted to talk to.
Don't believe me?
More...
Here's nine minutes on how to dial a phone. For reals. Nine minutes. I'd say it's how to dial a phone plus all the bells and whistles, but due to corporate conglomeration, there's nothing but bells left. Looks like whistles got bought out.
Why this is a two-parter is beyond me. How a dial phone is "yummy" is also beyond me.
Now here's a training film for operators. I like that they have to use a "dialing tool".
Hey, you guys are from the 21st century. Any of that look familiar?
And then we had to get used to a whole new system! Will wonders never cease?
Not if AT&T has anything to say about it! The future is now! Pew pew!
Oh wow. Americans making things. Dates that film.
Also, IN YOUR FACE, KOYAANISQATSI! Not looking so avaunt-guarde after that opening sequence now, are we?
Whaaaaaaaa....? A computer now? It'll never take off.
Next, you'll say I can carry my phone with me. Unpossible!
"Hey guys, I spent more than $500 on this thing. Pretty neat, huh?"
Just for a moment here, I want you to think about the age difference between these brothers. Ask yourself how that happened.
And now think about how much easier things almost were in the 60s. And then think about how your iPhone can never get a signal. Sweet.
Monday, September 05, 2011
Anime Fest 2011: The Curse Has Been Lifted
A lot of people asked about this piece after the show, so here it is, so you can share with your friends.
Plus, we totally suck for not putting up a post letting everyone know about ANIME HELL at Anime Fest tonight. We were in panel room 6 and you WILL NOT believe what went wrong at the show tonight.
More...
Nothing. Nothing went wrong. At all.
Well, there was one minor hiccup. Dan and Ed came by the house at around five, and we attempted to do sukiyaki. We had decided against the raw egg dip, so it was really pseudosukiyaki, but the entire thing was a disaster anyway, because a fondue pot will never produce the kind of heat you need for that. Keep that in mind if you ever decide to do pseudosukiyaki: no fondue pot. We moved the entire operation into the kitchen, which annoyed the cats, because ONLY CATS EAT IN THE KITCHEN.
Anyway, that pretty much sucked the bad luck out of the night. It's not that it was wrong per se, it just wasn't what I had hoped.
But as we were packing up and getting ready to head out the door, we got a call from the AV staff at A-Fest, letting us know that the room was empty and ready for us to come on down and make sure everything was going to work.
And everything did work. We had the most awesomest AV crew and staff was super-cool about everything, helping getting the stage turned so we could see what was going on, making sure there was a fifth mic for Katie, showing us the light pre-sets so we could get the house-lights up when we needed...
And thank-you, Spam, for getting us water. That really helped a lot. You have no idea. Sorry that kid shoved you during the Hard Gay pose-off and tried to make out with your buddy.
We opened with TV SHOW, which is kind of about what we do here.
Spike Spencer sat in with us for a while (on a dare, I heard) and I hope we did not hurt him too much. You were a good sport, Spike. Thanks for joining in on the madness.
We had a great audience, a great crew, and a great time. Your "Yatta" dance was one of the best I've seen in a long time and you, the audience, are why we do this show.
Dinner at Sushi World was, as always, wonderful.
We did not try to have sukiyaki, however.
Now, before I forget all over again, anyone who was asking about my shirt tonight. It's the Simplicity pattern 3852, and the fabric is similar to this, but on a black background. Someone had asked me before the show and I totally forgot to touch-base with you afterwards.
Also, sorry again to the kid I beaned with the candy cigarettes. Those things are dangerous!
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Exercises in Preparation for Independent Life (Priit Pärn, 1980)
It's been a while since I posted anything up here, and this film just came to my mind right now noticing such a great copy on YouTube (having seen it first on VHS back in the day).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)