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It's been some time since I've posted anything for children, but this simple and effective story and animation based on the Un monde en couleurs series of books illustrated by Mathieu Roussel and written by Nathalie Tousnakhoff is a charming diversion. See it HERE.
Links:
Lamiedezoe.com
Kilowatt Editions (the book)
MAKE Visual
Matt Roussel
Hiyao Miyazake's animated masterpiece, My Neighbour Totoro has a very special place in my household. We've all been taken by its mixture of fantasy and reality. In particular, my 4 year-old son has taken it to heart.
But this post isn't about introducing you to the film, but to comment on a change made to the western version which is unnecessary and unsuccessful. There have been two releases in English. The first was released in 1993 from Fox and it is pitch perfect albeit with unknown actors. In 2004, the rights expired and two years later, Disney released a new version featuring Dakota Fanning and her sister Elle.
I have a lot of respect for Dakota Fanning as a young actress, but she just doesn't seem to be capable of expressing wide-eyed, childhood exhubrance and innocence. The rest of the cast are equally inferior. The Fox cast are more relaxed and seem to take a leed from the animation, gelling better with their animated selves. Still, the new cast are not horrible, they are trying but somehow the effort works against them coming across as less natural and more self-conscious.
You can see both versions below. The one on the left is the new Disney version which also presents the film in widescreen format. On the right is the Fox dub which is presented in cropped full screen.
It is really unfortunate particularly for this film as it is enjoyed so much by younger viewers who aren't quite ready for subtitles. This film really doesn't need a star's name to sell it. It stands on its own. The real tragedy is that the existing dub is superior.
So my recommendation is that if you can get one of the last few copies of the Fox version, do so. The picture isn't as good, but the performances are a real treat.
Links:
Hiyao Miyazake wiki
Nausicaa.net
Studio Ghibli (Japanese)
Miyazake interview (Guardian)
In her upcoming book ABC3D(her first to be published in the UK or US), Marion Bataille bends perception from the lenticular cover to the diverse visual tricks within.
Graduating from Ecole Supérieure des Arts Graphiques de Paris, she is a multi-skilled artist, illustrator, costume designer, photographer, graphic designer and typographer. In her native France, she has written and illustrated Bruits (Sounds) and Livre de Lettres, the original version of ABC3D. In addition, she has illustrated Les Yeux Qui Chantent by Alex Cousseau, and La poésie surréaliste.
The clip below is an introduction to ABC3D. The book will be released in Autumn this year (2008) and is available for pre-order on Amazon.
When has adapting a children's picture book into a film ever succeeded? Certainly Dr. Seuss hasn't fared well in recent years with The Cat in the Hat and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. And is there a point?
The above image is from Spike Jonze's upcoming adaptation of Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. The image looks wonderful and there is a lot of talent behind the production. Jonze is a great choice as director, going with Jim Henson's Creature Shop is a wise move, and Dave Eggars knows his way around a typewriter but a lot of questions arise into the premise of adapting a picture book. Writers Spike Jonze and Dave Eggars have quite a challenge.
Much of the charm of picture books is their ability to distill big ideas into small, simple packages with enchanting imagery. While I'm sure Jonze will get the imagery right, the question remains: how does one preserve the charm and simplicity of a picture book over the course of a feature length film? I hope that we will have the answer when Where the Wild Things Are is released in October.
Links:
Legendary Pictures
Where the Wild Things Are - Wiki
Maurice Sendak - Wiki
Spike Jonze - Wiki
Dave Eggars - Wiki
MTV Movies Blog entry
Jim Henson's Creature Shop
McSweeneys
IMDB - Entry
I'm afraid this is more advertising, but there is something incredibly captivating about these surreal and sometimes sinister commercials. From Japan, these spots advertise Tarako's noodles and cod roe(eggs) and have become something of a national obsession. It isn't entirely new though it does have incredible staying power.
For those who find this captivating, it might be worth looking up Takashi Miike's The Happiness Of The Katakuris which has a similar surreal, musical feel though the promised menace does on many occasions come to fruition. (Miike is best known in the west for Audition and Ichi The Killer)
Also, don't miss the links below which are equally surreal. The Tarako site also features downloads and addition clips. What I find interesting is not just the surreal visuals, but the gambit of emotional hues these clips manage in a fractional space of time.
Watch this spot with it's melancholy and haunting opening that quickly turns...
From a young Argentinian team comes the pilot for October Le Chat. Aimed at a young audience, the trailer which can be seen at the official site features some nice visuals and fluid animation. October Le Chat will premiere at Annecy.
Here are some production animatics: LINK
It's interesting to see the the unique programming created for children's television internationally and it's often more experimental and subversive than anything dreamed up on the major networks.
This clip is from the Japanese children's program "PythagoraSwitch" and is comprised of several "algorithm dances" from the show. Just watch the expressions on the faces of the two lead men and don't miss the marches. Compiled by a YouTube user and subtitled by Dattebayo fansubs, this is great surreal fun.
Director Lee Seong-Gang's new animated feature Yobi, the 5 Tailed Fox has been picked up by Les Editions Montparnasse. Of his work, I've only seen My Beautiful Girl, Mari which is an incredible blending of the sounds and sights of the sea, clouds, and plants to a pitch perfect, dreamy blend.
The official site for Yobi is HERE. The screenplay was written by Lee Chang-Dong. Again, I haven't seen it but given the stale state of children's animation westward, I have a little hope for something fresh to share with my little one. At least in the visuals, this looks like fun.
천년여우 여우비(Korea)
**NOTE: I've just added the tag "children" for those of you out their with kiddies in your lives or who are kids at heart. You can click on the tags in the right margin to filter the blog posts by criteria.
SOURCE: CATSUKA.com
Euterpe Jones(AKA Maid Marian) has posted a lot of vintage cinematic work over at YouTube, but this has to be one of the best. It's a compilation of what remains of the first version of Alice in Wonderland and it's great. Only 9 minutes long, it features the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter, the March hare, the Cheshire Cat (a disembodied and bored looking Persian), and the Queen of Hearts. Suitably surreal.
Stumble it!
Stumble it!
