Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

and what about the Lord of the Rings Trilogy? Gollum as well as all of the other various monsters are CGI'd animation? and yes, Two Towers and Return of the King (extended blurays) are two movies I had hoped to watch during the Sci-Fi/Fantasy challenge that I didn't get around in seeing.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Those are fine.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Like BobO'Link, I started my animation month with a transition from the sci-fi with the Family Guy and Robot Chicken Star Wars parodies. I picked up RCSW III yesterday and watched it today. I always wanted to get into the animated versions of my favorite comic book characters. So, with the power of Netflix, I'm doing of DC and Marvel based viewings today.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Been making my way through Batman: The Animated Series. Really enjoy this series and it holds up after all these years. I'll get to updating my list with what I've watched thus far over the weekend.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I've watched the first 8 episodes of The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes today on Netflix. I think it is easily the best Marvel Animation ever (storywise) and is already approaching the Justice League Unlimited series. Well worth checking out for anyone interested in superhero animation.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I mentioned it earlier in my recommendations and would like to echo that recommendation again. As much as I like X-Men: The Animated Series The Avengers is easily the best in the Marvel catalog; great voice acting, animation, and stories. Volumes 3 and 4 are coming out soon; I can't wait to watch more of the show.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Great to hear these recommendations as my challenge (and others', it appears) will most likely be a Trevor-like exploration of superhero animation. I started with Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, which is fine but I will probably stop after I reach a full entry. DCU movies are also on the slate, but I'd like to try a new series and was thinking about Wolverine & the X-Men, but maybe I'll go for Avengers instead.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I too started watching superhero animation. I started The Batman vs Dracula, this morning. Not a big fan of The Batman so far, I've seen parts of episodes now and then. So far it's average but for an animated superhero movie, that's not too bad.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I"m looking to watch some of that one myself once I finish with Top Cat. I picked up V2 & V4 at Big Lots a year or so ago for $3 each when they had all that WB animation product. I've seen a few eps. of this but it's been a loooong time. I had little tollerance for those of the late 60s/early 70s when they originally aired and didn't like any of them but my recollections of Batman: TAS are that it is one of the better superhero cartoons. I'll use V2, as it has the better reviews, to decide whether or not to spring for V1 & V3. I"m pretty sure I will.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

So I'm in Big Lots today at lunch killing a bit of time and see a few copies of Metropolis (2001 - Rintaro) for $3 each. I picked up a copy because of the challenge. Here's the thing. I do *not* care for anime and know nothing about this film other than what I've read at IMDB and Allmovie. The last anime I watched was Animatrix and I didn't care for it at all. It, too, was a $3 Big Lots purchase and I keep it simply for the sake of completness since I own all the movies. Sci-Fi is my absolute favorite genre. Convince me I should keep and watch Metropolis.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I just finished streaming Fritz the Cat, another first-time viewing for me. I'm mixed in my response to it. There's some interesting socio-political commentary I found engaging, but the sexual content was just base and uninteresting. I've seen two other Ralph Bakshi movies over the years (Cool World and Wizards) and after this I'm confident in saying I'm not a fan. I felt like the material in Fritz the Cat that I responded to favorably had the voice of source material creator Robert Crumb, whereas the stuff that lost my interest felt more Bakshi to me. Maybe that's irrational and unfair, but I'm convinced that both voices are clearly present in the movie.

Oh, well. At least it's off my To See list.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I've never seen Metropolis, but even if you don't like anime you have to watch Cowboy Bebop.

I'm also not a fan of Bakshi. I can't exactly recall my thoughts on Fritz The Cat and one of his shorts I watched last year for the challenge, but I do remember generally not caring for his work. I did, however, like his backgrounds, which I found very well done and original. However, the overall style of animation wasn't much to my liking and I found his use of vulgarity as more of a gimmick than integral to the story.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Metropolis is essentially a remake of it's namesake for kids.Which isn't to say it's a kiddie movie, cause it's not. The quality of the animation is one or two notches above the Animatrix. The classic anime character design (think Astro Boy, Cyborg 009, etc...) might put you off, but you bought it, take a chance.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

You payed about the price you would to rent it. Worst case is you don't like it but then you can always do a trade-in somewhere, especially if it's one of those deals where you can trade in any X number of movies and get something free.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

This weekend is a perfect time to remember Hightower by watching the animated Police Academy series.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I watched Fritz the Cat for last year's challenge and the X-rated viewing on the list -- what a chore it was to get through that movie. Premise, characterizations, style -- it's just ugly, ugly, ugly... :down:

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

BobO'Link:

Science fiction is arguably the genre that anime does best, whether on film or for TV. METROPOLIS is an interesting film, but not one of the best anime films you'll find. It's better if you're familiar with the works of Osamu Tezuka, who did the manga (comic book) it was based on.

Why don't you try the following sci-fi anime movies?
AKIRA
GHOST IN THE SHELL
PATLABOR
PATLABOR 2
STEAMBOY
ROUJIN Z
CASTLE IN THE SKY
NAUSICAA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WIND
X THE MOVIE
HARMAGEDDON
ARCADIA OF MY YOUTH (the Captain Harlock movie)
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM I, II, III
GALAXY EXPRESS 999
ADIEU GALAXY EXPRESS 999
PHOENIX 2772
TENCHI MUYO IN LOVE
TENCHI FOREVER
SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO (+ 4 sequels)
WINGS OF HONNEAMISE
TOWARD THE TERRA

Anime Sci-fi TV series:
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Cowboy Bebop (as someone has already mentioned)
Serial Experiments Lain
Tenchi Muyo
Tenchi Universe
Armored Trooper Votoms
Captain Harlock
Galaxy Express 999
Gantz
Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex
Patlabor
X The TV Series
Mobile Suit Gundam
Star Blazers
Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040
Toward the Terra
Robotech
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya

Made-for-video sci-fi anime series
Gunbuster
Megazone 23
Dallos
Cyber City Oedo
Bubblegum Crisis
Midnight Eye Goku


This is all off the top of my head. I'm sure I left out some more good ones. There's hundreds more. As you can see, a lot of anime movies are based on anime TV series. Sometimes the movies are great (Patlabor 1 & 2), sometimes the series is way better than the movie (e.g. Cowboy Bebop).

I have over a dozen sci-fi anime TV series I wanted to watch for the Sci-Fi Challenge and instead saved them for this one. But there's no way I'm gonna get through all of them, esp. since I have a couple dozen non-sci-fi anime series I need to watch (Nodame Cantabile, Boys Over Flowers, Beck Mongolian Chop Squad, Glass Mask, Nana).

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Actually, I was thinking Lupin III might be a good introduction. Nothing too weird, just solid action/comedies. Better perhaps than some of the sci-fi titles you mention, which are all good, but might be too much for a neophyte, especially a reluctant neophyte.

Most of the available Lupin III movies available R1:
Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro
Voyage to Danger
Dragon of Doom
The Pursuit of Harimao's Treasure
Dead or Alive
The Secret of Twilight Gemini.
Island of Assassins
Farewell to Nostradamus
Crisis in Toykyo
The Columbus Files
Missed By a Dollar
Lupin the 3rd Episode 0: First Contact
The Fuma Conspiracy
The Secret of Mamo

Quality varies, and yes there's some dogs in there, but it's mostly just plain good. Don't know if starting out with a classic is a good idea (especially since it's argued that this version of Lupin is a little too soft hearted), but I'll throw caution to the wind and suggest starting with Castle of Cagliostro, directed by Myazaki. Avoid the English dub, though.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

Broke up my superheroes by watching four episodes of Archer. Kind of fun and I like the sense of humor, but I probably won't watch more than I needed to qualify for one entry.

Because he didn't get them for $3? :D

Seriously, it's nice to have these kinds of ideas/recommendations in the discussion thread. I myself was thinking about tackling some anime this month. I've seen Akira and numerous Miyazakis but not a ton of series. I've sampled some DBZ and Witchblade in the past so I'll probably try a movie or maybe FMA.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

So I'm seeing "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" tonight and was wondering if I could count it with the fair amount of CG in the movie?

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

there's boatloads of CGI animation in this, I think it's worthy. (it's already in my list)

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

yes

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

This exactly.

I *do* appreciate all the suggestions, and hope someone will benefit from them, but I'm neither a neophyte nor a fan of anime. As such I've no intention of picking up any other titles *unless* they are very cheap.

I've walked past this copy of Metropolis for months wondering if it were worth $3. I actually forgot that Animatrix is anime so I picked up Metropolis only for a checklist qualifier. coyoteblue indicating it's essentially a anime version of Lang's classic means I'll probably keep it for that reason alone. I'd wondered if that were the case but I've not read a single review that makes that connection. They all talk about other classic sci-fi films being an influence but *not* the Lang film.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice. I'll post my thoughts after I've seen it.

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

That pretty well sums up my feelings exactly. When I saw Fritz the Cat I felt the humor was more aimed at the 12-14 year old crowd, the very ones who *couldn't* get in to see it. I did not watch the entire film.

Of all his work Fire & Ice is the only thing I'd remotely want to watch again. In all fairness, I've not seen his take on Spider-Man nor Mighty Mouse, which many regard as his best work, but considering how I feel about his other films I'm not sure I'd want to try. My comments on several of his works I watched/attempted for the sci-fi/fantasy challenge are in that discussion thread if anyone cares. :)

Re: 2nd Annual August Animation Challenge - Discussion Thread
 

I saw some of his stuff when I was that age and it didn't take long to be bored out of my mind and go do something else. I didn't know he did Spider-Man stuff but out of all his stuff, that's the only thing I could watch all of. Lord of the Rings was rented more than once but I could never get very far into it. Just not my style.

And yet he somehow manages to squirm his way into 2 of my challenges this year as well as one of the prizes. Maybe next year I'll group some of the people together so as long as you watch something one of those guys did, you'll get a check.