Classic Cartoon Violence
Kevin L. Knoles
cartoons. I'd like to know what the most violent classic cartoons are so I can
someday prioritize my purchases. Remember, as it was once stated in Wild
Cartoon Kingdom, More Violence = Better Cartoons.
Kevin L. Knoles
DENNIS BITHOULKAS
: Other than Screwball Classics, and Animaland, I don't own many classic
: cartoons. I'd like to know what the most violent classic cartoons are so I can
: someday prioritize my purchases. Remember, as it was once stated in Wild
: Cartoon Kingdom, More Violence = Better Cartoons.
Well, pick up a copy of Spike & Mike's Festival of Twisted
Animation, that has titles like Mutant Killer, and one of the all time
sickest, but funniest cartoons, Deep Sympathy..as well as the Baby Elmo
series..pick it up if you've never seen them at the theatre before..:)
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"This is going to be more fun than senior's night on American Gladiators."
-Slappy Squirrel-
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"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I think I just saw God, and He was driving a
Cadilliac."
-Prof. Maximillian Arturo from "Sliders"-
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M Dobbs 1
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt. Violence doesn't equal quality. In fact,
the worst Tex Avery cartoons are the Screwy Squirrels which are among his
worst. Think about Tom and Jerry...cat and mouse beating the crap out of
one another...story? Characterization? Naah... let's get a red hot iron in
the face for the 20th time. Slapstick works best when there's some sort of
underlining logic and motivation.
Stephen W. Worth
wrote:
>Violence doesn't equal quality. In fact,
>the worst Tex Avery cartoons are the Screwy Squirrels which are among his
>worst.
I happen to like the Screwy Squirrels, but the people who don't care for them
don't dislike the violence. (They're not nearly as violent as "What's Buzzin'
Buzzard" or any Droopy cartoons...) The reason most people don't like SS is
because of the obnoxious personality and the irritating adenoidal voice. The
reason I like them is for the reflexive stuff: the card with waves on it making
the dog seasick, holding up signs commenting on the action, "Sure was a funny
gag... Too bad you folks couldn't see it", etc.; and the rapid-fire corny gags
performed with a nod and a wink to the audience. By the way, "Lonesome Lenny"
is a VERY funny cartoon, regardless of whether you like Screwy or not. Screwy
may have been a failure in the sense that he didn't become "another Bugs
Bunny" but that doesn't mean his cartoons were bad.
>Think about Tom and Jerry...cat and mouse beating the crap out of
>one another...story? Characterization? Naah... let's get a red hot iron in
>the face for the 20th time. Slapstick works best when there's some sort of
>underlining logic and motivation.
I agree with you on the last statement, but you sure miss the point of the
Tom & Jerry cartoons. The great thing about the T&J's is the fast paced
action that builds to a devastating climax, the inevitability of the balance
of power teetering back and forth and the skillfully staged "pain gags". There
was definitely underlying logic and motivation. The cat wanted to eat the
mouse because number one: he was hungry and number two: to get revenge on
the little monster. That was the motivation behind all of the T&J cartoons
(at least until Chuck Jones made the mistake of making them friends...) The
struggle and its ultimate conclusion is clear to the audience from the outset,
much like the fact that when audiences see a Shakesperian or Greek tragedy,
they know from the beginning that the fella is going to marry his mother and
gouge his eyes out, but the entertainment is in how the story is played out,
and the variations of acting and staging that make each performance
different. The fun with Tom & Jerry comes with watching the battle go back
and forth played out like variations on a theme...
I can understand people not enjoying T&J or Screwy Squirrel but it's more
a matter of taste, not because they're poorly written or too violent.
See ya
Steve
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Stephen W. Worth Animation Art
Vintage Ink & Paint Restoration, Authentication
swo...@vintageip.com Appraisal and Sales
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