Don Bluth

All righty, I'm firing up a sequence of related Top Ten Tuesdays focusing on one of my favorite art forms - animation. I'm going to start off by saying that animation (from the outside) seems a confusing business. There are animators, directing animators, and animation directors.... all of which are different jobs. Of course, some overlap and many directors have a special touch. But today I'm focusing on someone who rose up through the ranks as an animator and became a director - but he has such distinct style that you can pick out his involvement no matter what role he is filling*: Don Bluth. I'm serious about that distinctive bit. Curious? Watch The Rescuers, Secret of NIMH, and An American Tail, all three star mice so you can really notice the similar movements. My other litmus test? Toss the character into some moving water and watch how they come up for air. THAT is super distinctive, but wouldn't you know it, no one has bothered to put together a compilation for me.

*almost - his earliest work is exempt... and the dreaded DD

10. Rock-A-Doodle (1991)

Why, yes. That rooster does call Elvis to mind.

So... there is a well known truth among Bluth fans. Movies he direct fall into three categories. The first two catagories are ah-mazing and ah-bomination, more on the third category later. This one is the first movie in his downward spiral and therefore the least painful to encounter. There is plenty of energy and color. Plus, the designs are fun and unique, I mean an Elvis wannabee that's actually a rooster? Gold. Alright, maybe not gold, but definitely not the turd that the next several films would be.

9. The Fox and the Hound (1983)

Wait, Disney? Yup. Don Bluth worked as an animator for the Disney Corporation, a pretty popular one at that. Part-way through the production of this film he up and left - taking a good chunk of the animation staff with him. This betrayal was a real punch in the gut to Disney and EXACTLY what they needed. He was right, Disney was getting stale. The formation of a rival company forced them to up their game. His bits were limited to basically the minutia of Widow Tweed's life - milking a cow, playing with Tod, shooting a gun, and... nope that's it. But the legacy begins here, shooting it up the list.

8. The Rescuers

Bluth worked for Disney beginning in the late 1950s on movies like Sleeping Beauty and Robin Hood, but in my mind this is where the real Bluth style begins to show in earnest. I guess mice are kind of his thing. Anyway this a fine film and it certainly kept Disney chugging along a little longer at a time when they were about to fold up. Seriously the history on this film is fascinating and I've seen more than one source crediting it with saving Disney, seems ironic that it's directing animator would leave partway through the next film to form a competing company.

7. The Small One

I've only seen this gem a couple of times, but it is really lovely. It has a lot of the characteristic Disney design but with a heaping helping of Bluth. Plus it is Christmas, and really, who can resist that? Additionally, it is really the first project where Bluth got to practice his directing skills. It isn't a feature film but rather a short, check it out next Christmas.

6. All Dogs Go to Heaven

Don Bluth has a policy that kids can handle anything... as long as there's a happy ending. And he is playing that card to his fullest ability in this film. Death, homelessness, child exploitation, child endangerment, and the mob(?) to name a few things in the film. It has a dark color palette to go with it's dark themes. Unfortunately this was the final AUTHENTICALLY BLUTH film to be released. His art style would appear in a couple more films, but his original approach to stories was about to fade away.

5. Anastasia

So here's that third category I spoke of earlier - Diet Disney. But in fairness Bluth's Diet Disney beats the pants off most others in terms of quality. Don't expect any historical accuracy here, but you can expect a great villain, handsome leasing man, and a thumping good soundtrack. While I like the movie it isn't one that you can peg right off as a Bluth film - because with Diet Disney he simply tries to copy the look and feel of a Disney movie.

4. Bartok the Magnificent

This could easily snuck onto the guilty pleasures list. Don Bluth's films have a reputation for generating sequels, and not just sequels - but sequels completely different from the original film. But this is the only one Bluth was involved with. Is it a more outstanding film than Anastasia? Heck no. Do I like it better for no apparent reason? Heck yes. The art style has only the briefest shades of Bluthiness but it is very welcome. And the story is totally insane, not as dark as Bluth-classic but a little off of Diet Disney.

3. Secret of NIMH

Many people consider this film the height and glory of Bluth's career. I love it but I prefer to believe that the man didn't climax on his first outing. (I also never experienced it until high school.) This is the film that launched a career away from Disney - and made Disney realize that they had competition. Not a box office success by any means (opening the same time as E.T.) but garnering crazy positive reviews from the critics describing it as 'beautiful', 'thoughtful', and 'interesting'. I imagine it had a few Disney execs sweating.

2. An American Tail

If Secret of NIMH made Disney sweat then An American Tail was causing panic attacks. It beat the record for highest grossing animated film set in 1977 by... The Rescuers. Produced by Steven Spielberg (the E.T. competition) he apparently asked Bluth to create, "something pretty, like you did in NIMH." The marketing for this film was much better and resulted in a great box office success. About this time Disney started shaking up the way they worked and a new project was about to begin...

1. The Land Before Time

I could watch this film over and over as a child - even though it was kinda scary compared to my normal fare. It raised the bar and once agin set the record for animation box office. Oliver and Company (which Disney had been working on for quite some time) released the same year and came closer than other Disney offerings. But Disney was about to change the landscape of animated film with a release that would affect how every company made animated films for the next decade... the animated musical.

Top Ten Tuesday

So..... this is where I let the internet in on my deep-dark-secrets. Haha, not really. I watched Moulin Rogue for the first time this weekend and... well it was weird. But I can see why people like it. However, it reminded me of this bit:

(by the way they totally swear in here, so head's up for tender ears in the cornfield)

Yup. I'm about to outline my guilty pleasures. Those things which I like but am embarrassed to like. Usually things that are waaaaaay outside my intelligence level, just plain bad, or something I normally look down upon. I am by no means a student of film, literature, or any other media, so when I say something is bad it is usually pretty obvious.

Also since it is a guilty pleasure it can't be something that I openly enjoy with no qualms. Is Dumbo outside my age range? You bet! But I'm not going to blush if you catch me watching it. See the subtlety? Anyway, ranked from mild blush to 'HIDE THE EVIDENCE!!!' here are my Top Ten Guilty Pleasures.

10. Guardians of Ga'Hoole

This one ranks so low because, as a book (series), the only way for you to really see what is going on is for you to have read them yourself. I find that exceedingly few people have actually read this series, so I'm pretty safe enjoying it in public. The guilt comes from the fact that these are probably a fifth grade reading level. Something I was way past before I ever opened one. Oddly enough the guilt does not transcend to the movie. I think that it was changed enough- plus the topics on film - make it much more... I don't know. Commonplace? Plus the art is gorgeous.

A talking animal fantasy - where the animals in question are pretty much only kinds of owls- it does a decent job of world-building. But it is really dark (pardon the pun) as well. Like, much darker than your average kids fare. It covers racial supremacy, kidnapping, brainwashing, war, nature-vs.-nurture, and a host of other topics that are completely the opposite of what I normally enjoy reading. I mean that's depressing stuff right? Except.... I can't get enough.

9. Star Trek TOS

Where

To

Begin?

I said it. Yes I watch this and realize it has a really devoted fan base. But I'm embarrassed that I enjoy it so much. Guys, it really is bad. The sets are bad, the writing is corny, and much of the acting... leaves something to be desired. However, it is fun - sometimes even thought-provoking. But guys, it's bad. I genuinely love it though, and will totally watch it on TV. Just don't expect me to make eye-contact with you if you catch me at it.

8. Independence Day

So everyone seems to have seen this movie, and most people seem to like it... but I'll stand my ground that it is actually not a good film by any definition of the word. But every once in a while I need an action movie in my life and it comes down to this film or Jurassic Park. Jurassic Park usually wins because DINOSAURS but, on occasion, what I really need in my life are massive explosions. That's where this film delivers.

7. The Chipmunk Adventure

Well, The Chipmunks were mildly annoying on the best of days, The Chipettes were exhaustingly annoying every day, and their remixes are atrocious earworms that eat away your brain cells. I can't even justify liking this movie. It has annoying characters, singing annoying songs, nonsense villains, a nonsense plot, and some of the most offensive racial stereotypes put to screen in the last thirty years. Yes, we're entering both truly bad and truly embarrassing territory now.

6. Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century

I think that the title speaks for itself, and trust me when I say that it is exactly what it says on the can. They reanimate the preserved body of Sherlock Holmes to work for New Scotland Yard. He then solves mysteries that are eerily similar to the ones he came up against in the Victorian age, all while coming to terms with new surroundings and his robotic assistant Watson. This show premiered before the RDJ movies and the BBC show, and honestly - I can't believe I'm crediting this - it gave Holmes back some of his dignity. He had been regulated for years to the musty, scholarly corners of literature. This show helped introduce kids to the badbutt that he actually is: Master of Disguise, Underground Fighter, and Overall Stronger Than You'd Ever Guess. Just when you start to think: "How bad could this be? Why should this be considered embarrassing?" the theme song plays.

Wow. Dat animation. Such narration. Much cheesy.

5. Lizzie McGuire Movie

There are some movies that you go to without friends, there are some you go to without family, there are some that you go completely by yourself.... and then there are movies where they literally flipped the switch just for you because no one else is there. Imagine wielding that power as a 13 year old. I did. Years later I get a weird satisfaction of having completely owned a giant screen for a private screening of this film. I get a little power trip just singing the song 'This Is What Dreams are Made of'. But really, I never made time to watch the TV show, never really did the whole teeny-bopper pop thing (I was, and still am, a John Denver kinda girl), romances, ESPECIALLY SUMMER FLING TEEN CRAP, rate pretty low on my list. And I haven't even mentioned the ridiculous graduation, the fact that the eighth grade graduates go to Europe with ONE chaperone, the pop star/identical twin but not really mix-up, and the LIP-SYNCING CONSPIRACY. Yet.... THIS IS WHAAAAAT DREEEEEEEAMS ARE MADE OF!!!!

Plus it all goes down in... the Colosseum?

4. H2O Just Add Water

We are now entering Officially Embarrassing. As in, admitted to a very few. So this is Australian children's programme about three teen girls that swim in a moonlit volcano and now every time they touch water they turn into mermaids! Things and stuff ensue. It contains all the teeny-bopperness of Lizzie McGuire but with fun accents... and an internet cafe. It is basically all the Disney shows that I despise of the past decade: (pre)-teen(s) has giant secret, known to only a few, must hide secret and deal with everyday life, secret is nearly revealed, must cover tracks, secret comes in handy, all is well. I don't know why I can suddenly accept it because they come from the land down under.

3. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

This gets sooooo stuck in my head.

This show has a somewhat famous following of adults. That doesn't stop me from enjoying it with the door closed and the blinds drawn. The colors! The music! The social caricatures stereotypes! The quirky animation style! Gah. I never meant to get so into it, but there it is. I've definitely Netflixed it the whole way through twice, with several episodes getting preferred treatment. I think we've spent enough time here...

2. Land Before Time Sequels

Somewhere along the line I did lose track...

I'm sorry for not being sorry. (Except, yes, I am sorry.) I can't take the nostalgia glasses off here, I view them with the same tenderhearted forgiveness I did as a child. You see... DINOSAURS. I've never been super-scholarly about them, or even a little scholarly - I've been known to use Land Before Time names for species - but I just love to LOOK AT THEM. And here is a whole fleet of dinosaurs without those darn scientists popping up every two minutes to tell me what I'm looking at. 

I have to believe that this maelstrom began with the best of intentions...

Universal Exec A: Man oh man. This Jurassic Park. Am I right?

Universal Exec B: You are correct. People are loving them some dinosaurs.

Universal Exec A: Hey, we should make a dinosaur movie for little kids. What kind of rights do we have in the way of dinosaurs?

Universal Exec B: Well.... Jurassic Park and... oh hey! Remember that animated one? With the baby dinosaurs?

Universal Exec A: Yeah, let's make a sequel. But tone it back and make it less scary. That Bluth man is making kid's feel all emotional.

And a series was born. Why it hasn't fizzled out we may never know. I am of course not ripping on the original (long live Bluth) but I think by now the entire world is aware that the original and the sequels basically exist in separate Mysterious Beyonds. What people may not know is that the original is edited to make it more child-friendly! There are ten missing minutes that are among the most drama-filled of the movie and we may never see them.

So what could possibly be guiltier than sitting down to Land Before Time VII???

1. The Tinkerbell Movies

I'M SORRY!!!

I do not like Tinkerbell as an entity. She is annoying as all get out. I'm not that big a fan of the Disney movie Peter Pan either. So explain to me how I CAN LIKE THESE MOVIES!!!! I don't get it, at all. They are predictable, corny, contrived, saccharine, and sort of ugly.

But sometimes... I lock the door, close the blinds, turn the volume down low, dim the lights, whisper 'Let's do this.', and press play.

There you have it! My top ten guilty pleasures! What are yours?  What should next week's Top Ten Tuesday be? Let me know!

Top Ten Tuesday

Words. I love love love love love love words. But there are words, words, and WORDS.
You see words are those things you use in normal conversations: push, eat, no, from, the, sun.... on and on, you get it.
Then there are words that are fun and easy to slip into conversations without getting too many raised eyebrows: doldrum, conundrum, cynical, factoid, benevolent, iridescent, and perpendicular.


But then, you have WORDS. Oh, how I adore them. These exist almost solely for the purpose of being obnoxious. So, without further ado, my ten favorite WORDS.



10.

Harbinger

Definition: a person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another

Sentence: Eric is the harbinger of death.

Less Obnoxious: Every time I see Eric, I die.

First Google Image Result:

Of all the pictures I expected... this wasn't even close.

All right, this word is fairly common, especially in the harbinger of death example highlighted above. Or maybe that's just my crowd, since I'm not really seeing it in that capacity on Google, I am seeing a video game (?) called Mass Effect that the above picture must be from. Anyway it isn't a word that's easy to squeeze in to conversation, but it sounds wonderfully ominous. 

9. 

Vexillology

Definition: scientific study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general

Sentence: I have a definite interest in vexillology.

Less Obnoxious: I love flags in an intellectual capacity.

First Google Image Result:

And suddenly the harbinger image doesn't seem so weird.

This is the word that launched this list. Apparently people are unfamiliar with the term vexillology and feel that it might be a bit haughty. Well pfffft.

8.

Oology

Definition: a branch of ornithology studying bird eggs, nests and breeding behavior

Sentence: Eric is interested in oology.

Less Obnoxious: Eric is fascinated by crane eggs... and then they die.

First Google Image Result:

So this image is closer to my expectations... but somehow just as creepy. 

You know, calipers would have made another nifty entry on this list.

The reason I love this word rates right up there with my love of the old flag of Libya. Laziness. This is the shortest of all the -ologies. Just stick an extra 'o' on there and you're done. But honestly outside of one episode of Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers I've never seen someone totally focused on eggs.

7. 

Fracas

Definition: a noisy disturbance or quarrel

Sentence: Stop creating such a fracas.

Less Obnoxious: Quiet, you.

First Google Image Result:

So the picture thing was supposed to be serious. But this is quickly becoming ridiculous.

The problem with this word is that during an actual fracas, when you have cause to use it, people will inevitably think you're swearing at them.

6. 

Etymon

Definition: a word or morpheme from which a later word is derived

Sentence: The etymon of etymology is etymon.

Less Obnoxious: Words are often made by other words.

First Google Image Result:

Oh look, etymonart.

There is something super satisfying about the fact that this word - etymon is a word that means... word. Man that's good. Ittttt's the ciiiiiircle of definitioooon!!!


5.

Razzmatazz

Definition: noisy and exciting activity meant to attract attention

Sentence: Eric's fracas was an intentional razzmatazz.

Less Obnoxious: Eric started a fight to get the crane's attention before it laid an egg and died.

First Google Image Result:

The purple isn't surprising but I was expecting sequins...

Does anyone else feel like this word should be associated with jazz music? Double z's are a beautiful gift and this word gives you two.

4.

Canoodle

Definition: kiss and cuddle amorously

Sentence: Do not canoodle with Eric.

Less Obnoxious: Do not engage in PDAs with Eric, unless you like eggs and death.

First Google Image Result:

Awwwww... It only took us six tries to get a picture somewhat along the lines of what I was thinking of.

I must admit, the charm in this word is how old-timey it sounds. But it also sounds like cat fishing. Anywho, I dare you to say it in an appropriate fashion in conversation without feeling totally goofy.

3.

Lollapalooza

Definition: a person or thing that is particularly impressive or attractive

Sentence: Eric the oologist is lollapalooza, I believe I shall invite him to canoodle.

Less Obnoxious: Eric Eggman is quite attractive, I think we should kiss.

First Google Image Result:

Oooh, more etymonart.

I must admit it was that great linguist Tigger that introduced this word to me. I was totally delighted to discover that it is, in fact, a real word - and also a music festival. An impressive music festival I'm sure.

2.

Phantasmagorical

Definition:  having a fantastic or deceptive appearance, as something in a dream or created by the imagination

Sentence: I am the Phantasmagorical One.

Less Obnoxious: I am the Phantasmagorical One.

First Google Image Result:

Another one that actually makes sense. I kinda like this art.

In college I was one of four summer RAs between my junior and senior years. We all had nicknames: the Short One, the Foreign One, the Amazing One, and the Phantasmagorical One - guess which one I was.

1.

Haberdashery

Definition: a men's accessory store; modern usage hat shop (American English)

Sentence: Eric the Oologist owns a haberdashery where you can buy lollapaloozing good hats for canoodling.

Less Obnoxious: Eric the Eggman owns a hat shop with fancy hats of death.

First Google Image Result:

Eric the Oologist in his haberdashery, you may now die. 

Must say that I was quite excited to discover that Christopher Lloyd was a haberdasher at one point in his life.

Although he did give Marty this, so he apparently wasn't the best haberdasher of all time.

There you have it! My top ten favorite WORDS! What are your favorites? This list brought to you by a suggestion of Ann's. What should next week's Top Ten Tuesday be? Let me know!

Top Ten Tuesday

It's already time for another Top Ten Tuesday! I promised that these would range from the traditional to not so common.
This week is something you're not gonna find on many other sites. I've been interested in vexillology for several years, at least since high school, and perhaps a dabbling in middle school. One of my most prized reference books is:

My love.

Believe it or not I basically had this all in my head, I had to double check a few because flags change all the time, one of my old favorites is *alas* no longer.

Quit waiting for the picture to load, it actually is was just green.

What you're looking at is the old (1977 - 2011) flag of Libya. Now, several awesome flags have emblems and meaningful designs, but look at that - it's just green. Literally everyone could freehand that on a social studies assignment to be turned in next period. It's like it has nothing to hide - just you, it, and green.
Now, I focused on national flags to limit the playing field (there is one flag here that does double duty as a religious flag, but is the flag of a state recognized by the UN). I must also say that as a visual person my choices are almost totally aesthetic. So, time to let my freak flag fly high as I present you with my...

Top 10 Favorite Flags

10. Switzerland

I've a special fondness for the flags that don't fit in the usual proportions. Switzerland has a square flag but a pretty low key design knocking it down the list. I've seen a fair number of people confuse this with the Red Cross flag, which is kinda sad considering that the name is the description of their emblem...

See... literally a red cross.

Anyway, even large square flags always look kinda dinky flying from a flagpole (at least to many people from rectangle land), so it has a bit of a cute quaint factor going for it. 

9. Myanmar

Combine one of the most common field designs - the triband - with the most commonly used emblem - the star - and you get the flag of Myanmar. What truly makes this one interesting in my opinion is the fact that the star seems to occupy negative space. I don't know, it almost feels like there is a star shaped hole in the middle of the flag. I'm guessing it has something to do with the fact that the main body of the star doesn't quite cover the green band.

8. Norway

There are many variants of cross flags. My favorite style is the Scandinavian cross, and far and away the best of the Scandinavian crosses is Norway's flag. It is sort of the antithesis of the Union Jack. Really I just love the way the three colors (red, white, and blue seem to be very popular in vexillology) come together on this flag. 

Not all of these are technically national flags, but you get the idea. In my mind the two standouts are Norway and Iceland, but Iceland has this whole, 'I wish I were Britain' vibe going on. Plus making red the primary color in the flag's design gives in a more vibrant and exciting feel, as opposed to Iceland's calm, cool, and collected look. All I'm saying is that with the long, dark winters a bright flag might be a bit perkier out there on the flagpole.

7. Kenya

First off, how can you not love that shield design in the middle? It's basically heraldry but from a different continent. Second, this flag is similar in concept to the flag of Swaziland - which actually has a brighter color scheme. But, I've got a fun history with this flag giving it a boost. 

I'm not the best at meeting new people, so when I went to World Youth Day I was nervous about the large crowds. But I also wanted to branch out a little and at least try to mingle during some free time. I walked by group after group looking for someone approachable. But then I saw two young men standing under this flag. I walked over and said, "So, you're from Kenya, right?" They were very excited that I recognized the flag and struck up a fun conversation with me. If only all ice could be broken in this nerdy fashion...

6. Vatican City/ Roman Catholic Church

Here's the other square flag! And the one that is doing double duty as a religious flag. It beats out Switzerland really easily due to the heraldry. I usually go for simpler symbols on flags, heralds and seals tend to get a little convoluted and hard to make out. This one does well by a) limiting its color scheme, b) containing no words, and c) being proportionally larger than most.

Bonus points - Best dressed army:

5. Antigua and Barbuda

Here is a flag that gives me a picture. This could be a picture in a children's book - no problem. "The sun rose above the ocean, near the mountainous land of white beaches." This is one of those flags that undoubtably tells a story. Vexillologists see a flag like this one and immediately start piecing together symbols to find the story.

Interestingly enough, this flag was designed by an esteemed artist, based on a unique, new pattern that you won't find in the old fields. Not a triband, tricolre, or cross design - this instead has the simplistic yet well placed feel of a modern painting. Incidentally those aren't mountains... that's a V for victory. Even the simplest designs still need explanations sometimes.

4. Kiribati

And now from symbolism so easy a mathematician could do it I bring you the flag of Kiribati. A bird, the sun, the ocean. Okay, it is a little deeper than that but you must admit that this is the only flag where the water actually looks like water. The bird is a frigate bird, though greater or lesser isn't made clear in the books I've looked through. If I had to venture a guess it'd be the lesser frigate though since the greater frigate is that bird with the tendency to blow up like a bullfrog.

You know, I'm an adult and that still makes me oddly uncomfortable.

The bird represents power, sea command... and apparently dance. So it could totally be the greater frigate. I mean did you see those sweet moves?

So awkward.

3. Bhutan

Dear Bhutan,

Your flag looks awesome. I mean, there are other dragons on other flags, but yours is the only one that really owns its position. I'm not a detail oriented person normally. More of a big picture sorta gal, but with something as important as a piece of someone's culture I like to get it right. In that capacity your flag gave me nightmares.

Love, Katie

See? No Bhutan yet.

Alright, maybe not nightmares, but I certainly fussed over it a great deal more than was necessary. In college a friend and I painted a mural at a school for adult immigrants and refugees. My portion of the mural was the wall of flags arranged in order based on number of people of that nationality currently attending the school. I can't remember if Bhutan was number one, but it was right up there towards the tippy top. I spent weeks rough drafting, measuring, and painting all the flags, and putting of Bhutan until later because.... well, just look at it. A teeny bit more complex than a star, wouldn't you say? I finally finished Bhutan at the end of four months. The day before I left Omaha for the summer. Nothing like the last minute, eh?

2. Sri Lanka

My love of the non-standard flag was previously mentioned. And Sri Lanka delivers a flag with the largest length to height ratio. The reason it beats out the square guys? The awesome design. Over on the hoist you can see how they incorporated the flag of India, then on the fly you see that awesome thing which I'm pretty sure is supposed to be a lion. Except I'm also pretty sure they don't have lions in Sri Lanka. At least currently. Then again, similar lions feature in Chinese architecture and I'm almost certain they haven't got any lions.

I looked it up and it is indeed a lion. In fact, it is called the Lion Flag, so there you have it. Plus there was a Sri Lankan subspecies of lion... that went extinct around 40,000 years ago. That's a few years before this flag was adopted in 1972.

And our winner is...








1. Nepal

I picked this country as the focus of my high school geography project simply because I wanted to be the lucky person who could slap this baby on the front of my report. I mean look at it, it's glorious.  Five sides, acute angles, odd proportions... Nepal wins the creative design class hands down you guys. Sure, maybe a flag like this is less cost-effective but it certainly makes a statement. This is the kind of flag that purposefully rights non-rhyming poems. Creates Haikus about limericks. Spells its name Kaytea to dare the teachers to say something! Oh wait, that's me. A little rebellious but still totally traditional, Nepal has a flag that speaks to me. 

Right here.

So there they are! My top ten favorite national flags! What are your favorites? Do you even have any favorites? As always, I'm open to suggestions for next week's Top Ten Tuesday!