shadokitty

I didn't completely finish my to watch lists, but I did manage to make some dents in them. Nonetheless it has been an enjoyable challenge.

mrcellophane

I had never heard of it before finding a used copy at Hastings during a B1G1 sale and buying it on a whim. (I have a section of anime that I only picked up because it was so darn cheap.) Unfortunately, I don't have many friends who watch anime so my adoration and recommendation have fallen of deaf ears.

I'm pretty happy with my progress. I've burnt out a bit, and life has been hectic recently, so my viewing has decreased. I was able to get two anime series out of my unwatched pile as well as quite a few films. I'm very close to finishing the checklist (think I lack four or five checks) and am taking along films to finish up, though I'm not certain I will get around to them. I really want to watch Summer Wars with my family, but they are resistant to anime.

During the last few challenges, I've neglected to write up end notes or compile my final thoughts so I'm going to try doing this after the month is done. So far, I've been very happy with the films I've watched.

Ash Ketchum

If you do manage to convince them to see SUMMER WARS, I'd love to hear about their reaction to it. A wonderful film by the man I consider the reigning animation director in Japan and the only viable successor to Miyazaki. (I interviewed this director, Mamoru Hosoda, for a magazine article last year on the occasion of a festival showing of his most recent film, WOLF CHILDREN.)

The Man with the Golden Doujinshi

Sure you'll have the time for it? I remember it took a big chunk of August last year when I did it.

I recall reading the plan was to try and cash in on new toy sales by killing off most of the guys in the transformer movie but the huge change ended up driving away viewers.

Ash Ketchum

Another great Paramount Noveltoon I discovered on YouTube:

"The Wee Men" (1947) about Leprechauns, directed by Bill Tytla, who worked on quite a few Disney animated features in key positions:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8dxoiL4ZOEk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Travis McClain

There were a few factors at work. One, as I mentioned in a previous post, was that the core writers from the first two seasons weren't really involved in the third season at all, and instead a host of different writers each doing one or two episodes took over. It seems each writer was handed a group of toys and a paint-by-numbers template and told, "Fill in the blanks". It's hard to really have decent storytelling on any show with that many cooks in the kitchen.

But even aside from that, I think it's important to remember there was a sense that when The Transformers ended in 1987 that all the first-wave toy-tie-in shows had run their course and it was time for new stuff. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe/She-Ra, Princess of Power (1983-85/85-86), G.I. Joe (1985-86, with the movie in 1987) and The ThunderCats (1985-89) all ended right around the same time.

Out with all of those and in with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1988, and that wave ran until Batman: The Animated Series in '92, so effectively, the George Bush presidency. This wave was more comedic than violent: Beetlejuice (1991), Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-95), and even The Real Ghostbusters, which predated this wave (it debuted in 1986) was much more about chuckles and laughs than in action.

It's also worth noting that both The Transformers and G.I. Joe lasted a lot longer in comic books; the former for 80 issues from 1984-91; the latter, 155 issues from 1982-94! Plus, there was a four-issue crossover series and a handful of other such things (for instance, a three-issue adaptation of The Transformers: The Movie). I don't think it's a coincidence that those comics featured much stronger storytelling than the cartoons they outlived.

LJG765

I hope that you get them to watch it! I think Ash Ketchum was the one who rec'd it for me last summer and I really enjoyed it. If it helps, it really is more like a Ghibli film than what most people think of anime. I know someone who "hates" anime, but yet, when I've slipped a few Miyazaki films past her, she's enjoyed them. Maybe just tell them the plot rather than mention where it was made?

mrcellophane

My family was up for watching Summer Wars, and everyone enjoyed it! Having never seen any anime in its entirety, my parents were a bit dubious, but they quickly got into it. Mom asked if our family was that loud, and my sister and I assured her that we weren't, simply because there are fewer of us when the extended family gets together.

We watched the English dub which I'd not seen, and it took me too long to figure out that Kenji was voiced by the same guy who voiced Dean in THe Venture Bros.

shadokitty

I wish I had Akira, or The Fantastic Mr. Fox, so I could still get double credit for this challenge when I start the Criterion Challenge tomorrow. Ah well, there is always next year.

Trevor

I doubt it, but I'm a dreamer. It's like how I think that eventually I'll watch these thousands of DVDs, read all these books, and play these 400 games on steam.
I guess I'll try to watch Mr Fox. Did we ever come up with a definitive list of Criterion Animation?

shadokitty

I don't even like to buy games on Steam, cause then I still have to download them. And since the majority of my TV watching is streaming on Roku, downloading isn't a good idea.

LJG765

I kind of feel like that about my collection and I know I have a lot less than you do! Doesn't stop me from collecting it all, though!

I'm not sure if there is a definitive list but isn't there only 2 or 3 criterion animation? Fantastic Mr. Fox, Akira (on laserdisc). I just found an article that came out when they released Mr. Fox saying they also had one they almost released, but ended up doing it through Janus instead. That was the World's Greatest Animation compilation. So if there is a list, it's pretty short!

Trevor

Looking back on my old lists I see that some of the Brakhage shorts count, and at least one film in the Science is Fiction set.

Very few of my DVDs are at my storage site, but of course I put my non Bluray Criterions there. Doh!

LorenzoL

I like this particular challenge but August is a specially busy month for me and was not able to devote myself fully to it. I'll try this again next year.

Ash Ketchum

A week-long immersion in old cartoons has yielded a new blog entry, only my second this whole month:

http://briandanacamp.wordpress.com/2...ism/#more-1915

malazar

Summer Wars was a great choice for a non-anime fan audience. I am glad to hear it worked out!

I managed to hit my goal of 100 entries this morning, so I am content with that. It was another fun challenge and some backlog stuff I really needed to get to got watched. Who can ask for more than that?

LJG765

I was able to get in one last watch-"Fantastic Mr. Fox"-I think I enjoyed more this second time than I did the first time I watched it.

I feel like I did fairly well in getting what I wanted to watched. I really reduced my "to watch" pile.

LJG765

I hope everybody enjoyed their challenge! Please, over the next few days, finalize your checklists. I'll see who has won and get the notices out to people at that point. Thanks!

shadokitty

Thanks for a great challenge LJG. You did a great job hosting, and I appreciate you taking over the hosting job for me.

Cardsfan111

I wasn't able to chat much in the discussion thread, but enjoyed the opportunity to knock a few animated titles off of the unwatched list. Thanks for hosting, LJG!

davidh777

My kid saw Summer Wars a few years ago and said it was "cool." She likes Ghibli but not really any other anime so I was pleased with that reaction.

We all have backlogs, but I've pretty much given up on buying games because I never have time to play.

Considering how much animation I have available to watch, my performance in this challenge has always been pretty disappointing, but partly because I'm often away on vacation in August. I did make a Disney run over the last week to regain a bit of respectability.

Thanks for hosting, LJG! And thanks for the support, Hamilton Books!

wishbone

My list is complete... I didn't get anywhere near the amount of titles I wanted to watch this year but everything was a first time viewing so that made it fun. Thanks for another great animation challenge!

Travis McClain

Just wanted to congratulate LJG765 for a job well done as first-time host. Kudos!

shadokitty

My list is done. And once again, my thanks and compliments for a great job hosting LJG.

Trevor

Amen!

I think most of what I watched all month was animation. Just need to assemble my notes and complete my list, but I think I have most of it in there.