Monday, December 31, 2007

The History Of Animation - At Least According To Itunes

So, here's an interesting coincidence.

As I'm talking about it here, as I want to debate it with Stephen Worth elsewhere... Itunes has put up "The History of Animation" for sale. Since I can't copy and paste off Itunes, I'll transcribe as best I can. The bold stuff is ITUNES text, not me.

THE HISTORY OF ANIMATION

"While the technology of animation has changed radically during it's 100 year history, the goal remains the same: To create characters wth characgter. Take a time-traveling trip with us through some of the classic eras and key characters of Toontown - and meet some of the most compelling picks from the current crop. Below, you'll find animated shows and shorts that are classic and modern, hand-drawn and created on a computer, for kids and for adults only, but all memorable."

It breaks down as follows:

"The Golden Age"
Hand drawn animation dominated the screen from the nineteen-teens through the mid '50s in the Golden Age of Animation. Why are these shows and shorts golden? Because their luster has never tarnished - these timeless toons are every bit as funny today as they were decades ago."

Includes: The Three Little Pigs, The Rabbit of Seville and other Bugs Bunny Cartoons, The Brave Little Tailer, I Eats My Spinach, Duck Dodgers in the 24th and a half century, Dumbo, Donald's Crime, and Cinderella.

"The classic TV age"
When theaters stopped showing shorts in the mid '50s, animation found a new home on the smaller screen. These new cartoons, crafted specifically for TV, left behind a legacy of colorful characters from Yogi Bear to the Pink Panther to the retro-futuristic Jetsons."

Includes: Robin Hood Yogi and three other Yogi Bear shorts, A Scooby Doo, Several Pink Panthers, "The Birth of Astro Boy," "Elroy in Wonderland" from the Jetsons, A Jonny Quest and Birdman and the Galaxy Trio.

"The present: For All Ages"
If the Golden Age of Animation ended 50 years ago, the current state of animation must be the Platinum Age as cable TV, computer graphic imagery (CGI) and generations of viewers inject new life into the art form. Witty, warm and wonderfully imaginative, these entries are both kid-approved and adult friendly."

Includes: Fosters' "Good Wilt Hunting Part I," FOP's "Abracatastrophe," Pixar's "One Man Band," SpongeBob, Cars, AVATAR, a Jimmy Neutron and "The Danish Poet."

"The Present for adults!"
Foul-mouthed. Irreverent. Insane. Despite the often inapproproate language and behavior displayed in these cutting-edge shows, it somehow seems appropriate... cartoons started as entertainment for adults, after all, and now the medium has come full circle with these often brilliant and hilarious entries."

Includes: Southpark's "Make Love, Not Warcraft," Robot Chicken, Family Guy's "To Live and Die In Dixie," Aqua Teen Hunger Force's "Universal Remonster," Afrom Samurai's "Revenge," A Venture Brothers episode, a Morel Orel episode and "The Second Renaissance" from the Animatrix.

So... a lot of stuff chosen. A lot of stuff NOT.

Opening it up for discussion!

4 comments:

Steve Hulett said...

Painting with a broad bush is great fun .. and ultimately silly.

There have been plenty of stinkers along the way ... in all decades. They just fall away and never get heard of again. Therefore, they never existed!

Same is true of stuff done now. Some of it will be remembered, some will disappear. The audience (and markets) will decide.

It's like live action movies. Everyone remembers "It's a Wonderful Life," "Gone With the Wind, "Casablanca." Everyone forgets the crap made in 1946, 1939, and 1943. As well they should.

Matt Wayne said...

"Make Love, Not Warcraft" was hysterical.

Anonymous said...

This isnt available in Australia, yet. I tried grabbing it from iTunes this morning. What is it selling for in the US?

Steve said...

Well, it was more a loose compiling of cartoons that Itunes sells...

If you're super curious, you can just go ahead and look for the individual cartoons that are listed and buy them and create your own "history"

It was a marketing tool, nothing more.