The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
07-25-23, 12:28 AM
#1
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The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
2023
List thread will be here.2023
The Details
Challenge starts July 31st at 12:01 am local time.
Challenge ends September 1st at dawn.
Rules
Movies/TV shows should be labeled Animation from either imdb.com or allmovie.com. Other labels don't matter as long as there is at least a Animation label from one of those sites. Action/Animation would be fine.
This is the challenge where any and all types of animation is welcome, computer, hand drawn, puppetry, stop motion, etc. The entire movie/show does not need to be completely animated. Something like Roger Rabbit or a Ray Harryhausen film would generally be allowed.
If anyone has a problem with something someone watches or just wants an opinion on if it's animation or not, ask here.
Animation documentaries are allowed but not DVD featurettes/interviews that are just fluff promo pieces.
As with the other challenges, the lists must be numbered or it won't count.
Watching the movie/show with the commentary can counted as unique items.
Watching multiple versions(theatrical and director's cut) of the same movie/show will also count.
Lists
Since the general consensus seems to be for the easy counting method we will go with that. However, it is not required, so if you wish to count another way, feel free, as I will not be doing stats.
Checklist:
Spoiler:
Easy access links to the iCheckMovies part of the checklist. Thanks coyoteblue!
Spoiler:
2022's Thread
Suggestions for 2024:
Spoiler:
Last edited by LJG765; 09-04-23 at 03:57 PM.
07-25-23, 12:37 AM
#2
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
First, I apologize for how late this is going up! Real life kind of caught up with me the past week.
Because it's so close to the start of the challenge, I'm only going to give a day or two for any tweaks to the check list.
It looks like last year there was a request for a style section for the check list: Anime, CGI, hand drawn, 3D. I have to admit, I'm pretty ambivalent on this. Any feedback, suggestions for type of animation to go in this section if we do add it?
There is also a request to just list 12 actors watched or x number of directors instead of having a list to fulfill. I'm leaning towards not doing this. It'd be contrary to most if not all of the other challenges, not that that is a huge factor either, but it does seem to me to not be very challenge like. You could watch one film and easily get 12 actors to finish your list.
I think that's a great point about the Winsor McKay winners. Keep the number, 7, of winners to watch but just fill in the blanks for those instead of pulling from a small amount. Unless there is any objection, this will be changed.
For the icheckmovies section, the request is to go from 2 slots to one. Any feedback? Any suggestions for new lists from there to use instead of the older ones? Some options: Studio Ghibli Feature Films, MyAnimmeList: Top 50 Standalone Films; Paste's The 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time; The World History of Animation: Time Line; Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Winners and Nominees).
Any new actors/directors/studios to add?
Because it's so close to the start of the challenge, I'm only going to give a day or two for any tweaks to the check list.
Spoiler:
It looks like last year there was a request for a style section for the check list: Anime, CGI, hand drawn, 3D. I have to admit, I'm pretty ambivalent on this. Any feedback, suggestions for type of animation to go in this section if we do add it?
There is also a request to just list 12 actors watched or x number of directors instead of having a list to fulfill. I'm leaning towards not doing this. It'd be contrary to most if not all of the other challenges, not that that is a huge factor either, but it does seem to me to not be very challenge like. You could watch one film and easily get 12 actors to finish your list.
I think that's a great point about the Winsor McKay winners. Keep the number, 7, of winners to watch but just fill in the blanks for those instead of pulling from a small amount. Unless there is any objection, this will be changed.
For the icheckmovies section, the request is to go from 2 slots to one. Any feedback? Any suggestions for new lists from there to use instead of the older ones? Some options: Studio Ghibli Feature Films, MyAnimmeList: Top 50 Standalone Films; Paste's The 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time; The World History of Animation: Time Line; Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Winners and Nominees).
Any new actors/directors/studios to add?
Last edited by LJG765; 07-25-23 at 01:13 AM.
07-25-23, 08:50 PM
#3
Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
This is a number of changes to consider. I generally try to not object to changes but I do have opinions. First, the style section for the checklist. I am not interested in doing this (too much room for different interpretations of which style something is). I prefer to pick my directors or actors from a list, just my preference but it's easy enough to watch 8 or 12 different shows and pick a person from each show. I have no problem with the Winsor McKay winner change. I have already picked out my shows using last year's icheckmovies sectiond, but I can always switch things up if I need to. It does sound like an interesting thing to change up. I like the idea of keeping 2 of each section to watch. I have no new actors/directors/studios to add.
07-26-23, 11:31 PM
#4
Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
I've been looking at icheckmovis section and if you would like further input, I would suggest keeping the filmspotting top 100, Annie Awards Best Animated Feature and Japan Academy Awards Excellent Animation lists and changing up the other four. All five of the lists that you listed look good to me. Since you have listed five I would also suggest getting rid of the Annie Awards list. That would make for an easy exchange. The Japan Awards and Filmspotting Awards are consistently good so they would be good to keep.
07-26-23, 11:52 PM
#5
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Okay, I made a few changes and unless there are any objections, I think this is the checklist for this year.
Changes made:
1. Got rid of specific names for the Winsor McKay award winners. Kept the number required.
2. Switched out 3 of the icheckmovies options. I replaced Annecy Festival's 100 Films for a Century of Animation with The World History of Animation: Time Line, ASIFA's Top 50 Animated Short Films with Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Winners and Nominees) and Japan Academy Awards' Excellent Animations with Paste's The 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time.
I know that there was a request to keep the Japanese Academy Awards one, but I kind of wanted to keep the theme of the list fairly similar while giving us different options to chose from.
Checklist:
Changes made:
1. Got rid of specific names for the Winsor McKay award winners. Kept the number required.
2. Switched out 3 of the icheckmovies options. I replaced Annecy Festival's 100 Films for a Century of Animation with The World History of Animation: Time Line, ASIFA's Top 50 Animated Short Films with Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film (Winners and Nominees) and Japan Academy Awards' Excellent Animations with Paste's The 100 Best Anime Movies of All Time.
I know that there was a request to keep the Japanese Academy Awards one, but I kind of wanted to keep the theme of the list fairly similar while giving us different options to chose from.
Checklist:
Spoiler:
Last edited by LJG765; 07-26-23 at 11:59 PM.
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shadokitty (07-27-23)
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shadokitty (07-29-23)
07-29-23, 08:16 AM
#7
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
The checklist looks good. I think I will work on it myself.
Also, if anyone is interested, I was browsing Max last night. I discovered that the Rankin Bass The Hobbit is actually on there.
Also, if anyone is interested, I was browsing Max last night. I discovered that the Rankin Bass The Hobbit is actually on there.
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LJG765 (07-29-23)
07-31-23, 01:36 PM
#8
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Just learned that Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) passed away last night of cancer. I grew up watching his shows.
I know I'll be watching at least one episode of his show this month (puppetry counts!). I usually watch his Christmas special every year.
Kind of a sad beginning to the challenge this year, but I hope that everyone has a good one!
I know I'll be watching at least one episode of his show this month (puppetry counts!). I usually watch his Christmas special every year.
Kind of a sad beginning to the challenge this year, but I hope that everyone has a good one!
08-01-23, 12:10 PM
#9
Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Good news everyone! Disenchantment's next season is coming up. Bad news -- the new season premieres September 1st (you can still watch the existing seasons for the Challenge). Worst news -- it's going to be the final season.
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LJG765 (08-01-23)
08-01-23, 02:14 PM
#10
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Just learned that Pee-Wee Herman (Paul Reubens) passed away last night of cancer. I grew up watching his shows.
I know I'll be watching at least one episode of his show this month (puppetry counts!). I usually watch his Christmas special every year.
Kind of a sad beginning to the challenge this year, but I hope that everyone has a good one!
I know I'll be watching at least one episode of his show this month (puppetry counts!). I usually watch his Christmas special every year.
Kind of a sad beginning to the challenge this year, but I hope that everyone has a good one!
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LJG765 (08-01-23)
08-01-23, 02:44 PM
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
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shadokitty (08-01-23)
08-03-23, 10:28 AM
#12
Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Watching The Adventures of Batman blu-ray set and that opening credits is not for anyone that cannot stand flashing lights.
I'm excited to watch Babylon 5: The Road Home (comes out on Aug 15) during the challenge as well!
I'm excited to watch Babylon 5: The Road Home (comes out on Aug 15) during the challenge as well!
08-03-23, 05:05 PM
#13
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Slow start for me, I'm still away from home for another week or so. Hopefully others are getting some good watches in!
08-03-23, 10:30 PM
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
That being said, if you go into it and the CGI is much less than expected, you can use a wild card for your watch list, just don't use it for your check list.
08-05-23, 10:08 PM
#16
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
I've been out of town for a couple weeks watching my niece (well, she's 15, so more like being her chauffeur back and forth to her job lol!) and one of the nice things is that she'll sit down and watch a movie with me. We've done this a couple times now, and it's kind of fun. Tonight I let her pick between Wolf Children and Mary and the Witch's Flower since she told me she hadn't really watched any animation from Japan. She picked Mary. I've watched it once before and I really enjoyed the visuals and the story is pretty cute. She seemed to like it. Who knows? Maybe I'll get her hooked.
08-11-23, 07:38 AM
#17
Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
A few days ago I watched my new BR of "The Complete Wallace & Gromit" 30th Anniversary Edition. These still crack me up! "Cheese, Gromit!!" Peter Sallis was the perfect voice for Wallace.
I'm closely watching the upcoming release from Shout! to see if they were able to restore the music on "The Wrong Trousers" ("Happy Birthday" when the singing card is opened was replaced with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and "How Much is that Doggy in the Window?" the penguin plays to annoy Gromit was changed to somewhat generic music - oddly they were able to keep "Tie A Yellow Ribbon..." in place). If they were able to restore the original tracks, I'm in... otherwise the 30th Anniversary Edition is quite good (and has all the shorts on a single disc).
I'm closely watching the upcoming release from Shout! to see if they were able to restore the music on "The Wrong Trousers" ("Happy Birthday" when the singing card is opened was replaced with "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" and "How Much is that Doggy in the Window?" the penguin plays to annoy Gromit was changed to somewhat generic music - oddly they were able to keep "Tie A Yellow Ribbon..." in place). If they were able to restore the original tracks, I'm in... otherwise the 30th Anniversary Edition is quite good (and has all the shorts on a single disc).
08-11-23, 12:01 PM
#18
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
I'm back! I finally got home yesterday after 2 weeks...to only find out that not only were our phones (both cell and landline) were out, but the internet was too. Had to go to the next town over (after a 3 hour drive home) to find out not one, but TWO cables were cut during two different road projects. *sigh* Everything came back...eventually, but was not a fun time.
That being said, I should be able to be more present in the challenge for the rest of the month. I've gotten a few watches in with my niece but not a ton. I have 3 films I've seen before, but not my copy that are on deck first, Lightyear, Summer Wars and the Wolf Children. After that, I have a few I've requested from the library to work on one of the icheckmovies lists. Hopefully, they come in fairly soon. I meant to request them a bit earlier so they'd be waiting when I got home, but totally forgot to do it. Whoops!
Anyone watch a new or unexpected favorite?
I have to admit I've only seen the longer movies of Wallace and Gromit. I did enjoy them though! I'll have to keep an eye out for this set and pick it up at some point.
That being said, I should be able to be more present in the challenge for the rest of the month. I've gotten a few watches in with my niece but not a ton. I have 3 films I've seen before, but not my copy that are on deck first, Lightyear, Summer Wars and the Wolf Children. After that, I have a few I've requested from the library to work on one of the icheckmovies lists. Hopefully, they come in fairly soon. I meant to request them a bit earlier so they'd be waiting when I got home, but totally forgot to do it. Whoops!
Anyone watch a new or unexpected favorite?
08-13-23, 10:47 AM
#19
Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
I watched more Ardman animation yesterday - Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Shaun the Sheep Movie. The Shaun movie was a surprise first time viewing as I was sure I'd seen it before, but had not. It's essentially a 90 minute episode of the TV series (I really like the series and own copies of most of it) that worked quite well. It never felt overlong and had several laughs.
08-13-23, 12:07 PM
#20
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
I watched more Ardman animation yesterday - Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Shaun the Sheep Movie. The Shaun movie was a surprise first time viewing as I was sure I'd seen it before, but had not. It's essentially a 90 minute episode of the TV series (I really like the series and own copies of most of it) that worked quite well. It never felt overlong and had several laughs.
08-13-23, 12:12 PM
#21
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Yeah, I’ve been a big fan of the Aardman stuff since the ‘90s. W&G is fantastic, and the Shaun the Sheep movie is 99% RT.
I just watched the newish DC movie Legion of Super-heroes because I like the comic. It was fine but nothing I need to watch again.
I just watched the newish DC movie Legion of Super-heroes because I like the comic. It was fine but nothing I need to watch again.
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LJG765 (08-14-23)
08-14-23, 07:32 AM
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Re: Favorite new watches. I didn't list them, mainly because I didn't know what each episode was. But I have a group of friends that are heavily into watching anime. Three new series that I've been introduced to are Death Note, Kurokonu , and one that I can't remember the title, but it was about an eight episode series of a magical girl anime.
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LJG765 (08-14-23)
08-14-23, 12:18 PM
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Re: Favorite new watches. I didn't list them, mainly because I didn't know what each episode was. But I have a group of friends that are heavily into watching anime. Three new series that I've been introduced to are Death Note, Kurokonu , and one that I can't remember the title, but it was about an eight episode series of a magical girl anime.
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shadokitty (08-14-23)
08-14-23, 12:28 PM
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Yeah, I like anime movies more than shows but keep meaning to try more. I liked the few episodes of Cowboy Bebop that I saw, and honestly the theme music alone is probably reason to watch. I tried a little Dragon Ball Z, but it was just fighting all the time.
08-15-23, 08:04 PM
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Re: The 14th Annual Animation Challenge Discussion Thread
Just finished a Disney+ double header of Strange World and Strange Magic. It went from "Son, I love you no matter who you are/what you do," to "I wish I had sons." And that kind of tells you what Strange Magic did wrong. I liked the music-popular songs definitely NOT sung by the original artist, but still, found myself bobbing my head and singing along to a couple of them. But that's probably the best part of the movie. They used the villain isn't who you think trope, ala Frozen. A lot of women are ditzes imagery here, you need a man to be the real power type thing.
Strange World took a minute to get into and definitely had a very obvious lesson about loving your kids for who they are and not requiring them to be you. The other message of saving the planet because we're all connected was in there as well, but I think the other message was more in the forefront. I did think it was not too bad, though, and the people who got offended by it were looking to be. The colors were gorgeous. I wouldn't say this will be a Disney Classic but it's watchable.
Strange World took a minute to get into and definitely had a very obvious lesson about loving your kids for who they are and not requiring them to be you. The other message of saving the planet because we're all connected was in there as well, but I think the other message was more in the forefront. I did think it was not too bad, though, and the people who got offended by it were looking to be. The colors were gorgeous. I wouldn't say this will be a Disney Classic but it's watchable.