The first week at the school has proved to be exhausting, but I’m in good spirits as I dutifully report for this week’s Thunderbean Thursday. That said, I’m asking *you* to come up with a bunch of interesting and entertaining worsts. There is something great about finding the worst of each studio – and it’s actually more fun to think about and write about them than it is to actually have to watch them!
There’s no pressing Thunderbean news at the moment… work continues on finishing off the Rainbow Parades 2 set right now. Things are looking splendid.
And now, back to *your* least favorites….
Since it’s my fault you’ll be writing, it’s only fair that I start it out. There’s no rules in what you write, but I’ll start things out with my list of some of *my* leasts — and why.
1. Disney Studio: How to Sleep (1953). I have very specific reasons for this being my least favorite Disney theatrical cartoon. It’s beautifully animated. I don’t mind *that* part, but, even though I tried to enjoy it, I couldn’t find a single gag even remotely funny. It just seems like a misfire, and, somehow, because it’s trying so hard to be funny, I find it even more annoying. Click the title card below to watch it – if you dare.
2: Fleischer: There isn’t a Fleischer short that I’m personally *hating*, but if you want to annoy me at a showing of otherwise quality 16mm cartoons, show with Granite Hotel or The Wizard of Arts. To reiterate, I have no hate for either, but I’d rather see *anything* I haven’t ever seen from the classic cartoon era than have to watch either of these ever again (and I owned prints of both). Again, I don’t hate these- they’re just the last of the Fleischers I want to watch again. I posted this a little while back- feel free to look up the other if you’d like:
3. Terrytoons: I hate to disparage another cartoon with really great animation — but Gaston’s Baby (1958) really rubs me the wrong way. None of the characters are even slightly appealing to be, and every one is just mean to each other. Even Gaston isn’t interesting to me in his confusion between the kid and the parent. Maybe you’ll like it for its sheer bizarreness and a lot of really fun animated shots. I’m just not hip enough to get this one I guess.
4: Famous Studios: And So Tibet (1964)
I’ve owned a print of this cartoon *twice*- both times in a batch of other things. I must have a thing against angry characters, because here we have a story that really barely goes anywhere, some really uninspired character design and survivable animation. It’s also on my list of cartoons I’d rather never see again – and that’s a short list for Famous for me.
5: MGM: Mouse into Space (1962): I honestly could get through any of the MGM multiple times, but perhaps it’s because I saw this particular one over and over as a kid that I just would rather not see it again. In this Rembrandt Films/Gene Deitch produced short, Tom spends a majority of the cartoon reacting to objects hitting him or trying to avoid him while he’s running along with the rocket he was inside in space. There’s a cutaway once in a while with Jerry laughing at him, and then there’s a scene near the end where it looks like the animators were trying to emulate some scenes of 50’s Tom and Jerry cartoons in action and poses. It’s kind of a dud, and just about the least funny of this particular era of Tom and Jerry’s.
6: UPA: The Rise of Dutton Lang (1955) I don’t know where to start on this one. The basic plot is a man meeting a stranger at a cafe and telling him a story of a character that gets fatter and fatter,and is miserable as the story continues. There’s no happy ending for this character, just a story teller getting himself and another man drunk. I dislike *every* character in this film, and have trouble understanding why this was even a good idea to make. I like some of the design in this film, but never, ever understood the supposed sardonic, sophisticated humor in this mean-spirited cartoon. And yes, I know the title is supposed to sound like “Two Ton Lang” another completely unfunny and mean joke.
Ok- it’s your turn! Tell us all what not to watch please— and have a good week all!!!
