tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post2739248244378394099..comments2023-08-04T04:03:19.618-05:00Comments on Anime Hell: Halloween Specials That Time Forgot: The Pumpkin Who Couldn't SmileDr. Milahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02709123264511789800noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-90935642591506663812009-10-15T14:39:54.743-05:002009-10-15T14:39:54.743-05:00d. merrill said...
Yet another important piece...<i>d. merrill said...<br /> Yet another important piece of evidence to explain the popularity of Japanese animation in the United States.</i><br /><br />You learn new things everyday!<br /><br /><i>property said...<br /> Thanks for sharing,it seems that the film is lovely with so many lovely animation features.I would like to have a look at it if I have time.</i><br /><br />If you don't mind owning a film projector, here's such an item to look for!<br />http://cgi.ebay.com/16mm-film-animated-The-Pumpkin-Who-Couldnt-Smile_W0QQitemZ270470132998QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_Film?hash=item3ef946b506Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-49214417362323625812009-10-14T01:13:27.111-05:002009-10-14T01:13:27.111-05:00Thanks for sharing,it seems that the film is lovel...Thanks for sharing,it seems that the film is lovely with so many lovely animation features.I would like to have a look at it if I have time.propertyhttp://www.viaductrentals.co.nznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-69052147120077594542009-10-13T14:31:00.001-05:002009-10-13T14:31:00.001-05:00Yet another important piece of evidence to explain...Yet another important piece of evidence to explain the popularity of Japanese animation in the United States.d.merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07704651182760972937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-61693697001368813192009-10-13T14:21:10.894-05:002009-10-13T14:21:10.894-05:00Tohoscope said...
Heh. I think The Great Pumpk...<i>Tohoscope said...<br /> Heh. I think The Great Pumpkin is the first thing everybody thinks of when they think of Halloween Specials. All it takes for me is to hear Vince Guaraldi's The Great Pumpkin Waltz and I'm deep in the Pumpkin Patch.</i><br /><br />It is a very calm, yet moving piece! All I ever get in my head is the constant remarks made to Linus over his fruitless pursuit.<br /><br />Nowadays, I usually tell people not to bother watching it on TV anymore, not after what ABC's done with it, just get the DVD, you'll thank me in the end!<br /><br /><i>Shawn Robare said...<br /> Actually the plot is just Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol, only with the spirits removed and a madcap romp thrown in the middle.</i><br /><br />Interesting you mention that since Chuck did produce an Academy Award-winning adaptation of said story that deserves to be out on DVD right now, but apparently someone doesn't want us to have it at all.<br /><br /><i>Well, Raggedy Ann & Andy sort of function as abbreviated spirits, but you get the picture.</i><br /><br />I do, especially with the bit where they're in the aunt's bedroom and get her to be all nostalgic for her youth and what she's doing to Ralph by robbing him of the same thing.<br /><br /><i> I actually dug this special because it's got some great voice work (Daws Butler, June Foray and Les Tremayne are always awesome in my book) and some brilliant character acting moments on the pumpkin (something Chuck Jones was a master at.)</i><br /><br />Very true. The pumpkin does have it's moments, though I think I kinda like Tremayne's performance of Alexander Graham Wolf in the other special, "The Great Santa Claus Caper" despite the character being very much a Wile E. clone hell bent on ruining Christmas through greed.<br /><br />There was a period in time when the Chuck Jones versions of RA&A (including Raggedy Arthur and Alexander G. Wolf) were often seen on coloring books and other merchandising into the early 80's I can remember.<br /><br />Steering it back to anime, Harmony Gold at one point had distribution on these specials too in the 80's, as I do faintly remember seeing their logo pop up at the opening and end of the specials on Nick's Special Delivery presentations.Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-10969935221029016802009-10-13T12:29:03.561-05:002009-10-13T12:29:03.561-05:00Actually the plot is just Charles Dickens' Chr...Actually the plot is just Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol, only with the spirits removed and a madcap romp thrown in the middle. Well, Raggedy Ann & Andy sort of function as abbreviated spirits, but you get the picture.<br /><br />I actually dug this special because it's got some great voice work (Daws Butler, June Foray and Les Tremayne are always awesome in my book) and some brilliant character acting moments on the pumpkin (something Chuck Jones was a master at.)Shawn Robarehttp://www.brandedinthe80s.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-45577205531591703472009-10-13T09:46:14.023-05:002009-10-13T09:46:14.023-05:00Heh. I think The Great Pumpkin is the first thing...Heh. I think The Great Pumpkin is the first thing everybody thinks of when they think of Halloween Specials. All it takes for me is to hear Vince Guaraldi's The Great Pumpkin Waltz and I'm deep in the Pumpkin Patch.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01621988278894362595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-48865121199874018032009-10-13T00:00:30.879-05:002009-10-13T00:00:30.879-05:00I think you nailed exactly what was wrong with thi...<i>I think you nailed exactly what was wrong with this special. The whole plot just makes no sense. "If we get the right pumpkin it'll solve all the problems!" What???</i><br /><br />I tried my best to explain just how bizarre that whole bit was, but I guess it spoke for itself! Really, what world did Chuck came from where an idea like that just worked? Glad it was a sappy kiddie special anyway.<br /><br /><i>I guess you can't fault Chuck for trying to make it all work. As a kid I always blamed Raggedy Ann and Andy. They're just not that interesting to hang too much of a story on. Honestly, Raggedy Ann ain't the first thing to come to mind when you think about Halloween. It's not even the twentieth. The Grinch is more menacing and threatening (plus he had Boris Karloff's voice.) But even the monster themed Warner Brothers shorts have more of a Halloween spirit then this.</i><br /><br />True, RA&A were the Strawberry Shortcake of their time, no point whatsoever other than an excuse for another merchandising blitz!<br /><br />Nowadays the first thing that comes to mine for me on Halloween is The Great Pumpkin, but I hardly know of any pumpkin patch to go to and waste mindless nighttime hours cold and alone!Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7693402.post-21559861599534666762009-10-12T09:02:59.233-05:002009-10-12T09:02:59.233-05:00I think you nailed exactly what was wrong with thi...I think you nailed exactly what was wrong with this special. The whole plot just makes no sense. "If we get the right pumpkin it'll solve all the problems!" What???<br /><br />I guess you can't fault Chuck for trying to make it all work. As a kid I always blamed Raggedy Ann and Andy. They're just not that interesting to hang too much of a story on. Honestly, Raggedy Ann ain't the first thing to come to mind when you think about Halloween. It's not even the twentieth. The Grinch is more menacing and threatening (plus he had Boris Karloff's voice.) But even the monster themed Warner Brothers shorts have more of a Halloween spirit then this.<br /><br />Oh, I got it. How about Raggedy Ann vs Chucky? Good rag doll against evil mass produced doll? Raggedy Ann vs the toys of Toy Story? "Raggedy Ann teams up with Woody and Buzz Lightyear to save Halloween."<br /><br />On second thought, forget that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01621988278894362595noreply@blogger.com