Animation Recalibration – A blog about animation

Thoughts on Cars 3

On a whim, I went to see Cars 3 on Father’s Day. I was entering with the knowledge of Cars and Cars 2 as well as with the unusual strong imagery of the trailer. Like holy cow, that trailer was some serious stuff.

I thought, as many seemed to, that Lightening McQueen would die a brutal death. It’d be like the end of Toy Story 3, where instead of a trash incinerator, McQueen would be on a conveyor belt, ready to get pancaked. A final Owen Wilson-famous “wow” would be uttered before the death, and no, Mater would not play the role that the aliens had in Toy Story 3. McQueen would just die. Movie over.

I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to say that didn’t happen. Sorry if you were rooting for that.

But what did happen, I found quite charming, surprisingly. I wanted to tell you a bit about it.

Pixar movies all have a message. They all deal with some aspect of growing up, maturity, believing in oneself, etc. This movie’s message was about the end of one’s career. When do you stop? Are you a quitter when you decide to retire? Can someone make you stop living your dream? It’s almost like this film was made with the newly Medicare-eligible in mind, because these are not often thought of as #childhoodproblems (It felt like it needed a hashtag, sorry).

This theme applied to both Lightening McQueen, who is sort of being forced to retire in this movie, and his trainer, Cruz Ramirez, who has wanted to be a racer her whole life but was told she couldn’t do it.

A good majority of this movie is dedicated to pointing out differences between new and old perspectives, mainly with race training techniques. At first I was worried it was going to be a big metaphor for why old is better and us young folk trying to modernize and digitalize everything are the real villains of the world. Happily, a balance was established, showing more of a “honor what works for you”-type of message.

On the subject of characters, this movie has about 80% less Mater than Cars 2 did, which I was a-okay with. Also, I loved that a strong female character took on the role that Mater filled in the first one as Lightening McQueen’s main on-screen companion. Cruz has a decent backstory and, while she is caring, is one of the toughest characters in the film. She’s written in a way that makes her likable, basically a second protagonist, and, at times, more interesting than Lightening McQueen. Little boys have a new toy to collect.

And speaking of little boys (a ho ho), my favorite thing about this movie was the reaction one audience member gave during one of the final scenes. Without spoiling anything, a character does something really cool, with a lot of the movie leading up to this particular moment. This little boy got out of his seat and started jumping up and down with his fists in the air. I was even more charmed by this because he didn’t actually cheer, and while I have a love for kids movies, I often don’t share that affection for random children at the movies.

In all honesty, this boy’s actions reminded me of why I love animation, movies as a whole, storytelling, everything in that realm. What a grand reaction to a story. There was such joy in this little nugget’s body that he couldn’t contain it. It made me want to write something to see that reaction happen again. How magical, really.

While there were some predictable parts of the film, I will say that there were enough surprises and positive messages that made me feel like it was good I gave Cars 3 a try. The way it ends looks like it is surely setting up for a fourth installment; maybe that one will make me stand up in my seat and cheer this time.

And PS: Lou, the short before, is a cute idea that examines why some people don’t act so nice to others. Toy Story-like, a little creepy at times, but a good reminder of why I’m always happy that Pixar even bothers to include a short. Only complaint: these kids have an unrealistic amount of recess.

Ranking the Songs of The Lion King!

It’s The Lion King’s birthday and my, has it had an eventful life. Sequels, Disney attractions, an amazing musical adaptation, and soon-to-be “live action” remake. Even better, The Lion King has one of the best Disney soundtracks ever created. Did you know that it has the best-selling animated film soundtrack in the US? It sold almost 5 million copies in 1994 alone. But what do you expect from Elton John, Tim Rice, and Hans Zimmer?

I am going to do my best to rank the songs from the original Lion King (I specify original because, while the others have lovely songs, I want to only focus on the OG soundtrack for now). Of course, this is just my taste. All of the songs are still some of the best ever penned for film.

(Technical #6) The Lion Sleeps Tonight

This song happens for a hot sec when Timon is strolling through the jungle with Pumbaa. Of course it’s catchy, and so recognizable that maybe your super-cool high school a capella group tried its hand and mastering its awimbawehs. But sorry doo-wop groups, my love for The Lion King’s soundtrack outranks your impact on music history.

#5. Can You Feel the Love Tonight?

I do feel the love, just…not as much as I do with the others. The best part about this song are Timon and Pumbaa’s solos. Yes, this song is a magical exploration on what it means to feel the intangible, and that whole lion sex prelude thing.

But my real reason for this song ranking last on my list is that the Elton John version of it is far superior, in my opinion, to the film version. I still hear it on the radio, and you know what, every time someone turns it up. Beautiful song…just outshined by its composer’s remix.

#4. Hakunah Matata

When I was a young wartHOOOOOG! Great song, great message, great to sing along with too. Let me say, it’s quite fun dancing around one’s living room, swinging one’s head back and forth and pretending to grow up alongside Simba. And then, come right in with adult Simba, Toto’s Joseph Williams (yes, that Toto).

It’s also a great transition song, showing the passage of time, moving the story along all while informing us of the way Simba was raised. Thinking about all this puts me in the mood for some tasty bugs. Okay not really.

#3. I Just Can’t Wait to Be King

This song reminds me of my first karaoke experience, which took place on a Disney Cruise. Good times. It’s fun to play the Simba, Nala, and Zazu (Rowan Atkinson) parts in the song by yourself, too.

I think what makes this song so special to me is the visuals the movie provides. Seeing the colorful characters that made their way onto my pillow cases and bedsheets for a good ten years makes me feel all giddy inside.

Not a fan of the horn-in-butt thing that happens when the animal tower starts to fall, but the last image of Zazu trapped under a bum is such a great way to wrap up a song.

#2. Circle of Life

You put in the VHS and watch the Disney castle credits run. And then “Walt Disney Pictures Presents…” And then, this blackness, stillness, settles. And you know it’s coming but still it always comes as a bit of a surprise. That first note and screen-filling sun just awaken the senses like the smell of Vick’s Vapor Rub. It’s worth to note that Julie Taymor, the director of the original Broadway adaptation, totally plays with the heartstrings during this song, too.

There’s such magic in seeing the landscape, the animals, the invitation into the world in which the movie takes place. I love the scene with Simba and his little sneeze from Rafiki’s magic “dust.” And this is one song where Elton John’s performance does not outshine the film’s, performed by Lebo M (the Zulu vocals at the beginning) and Carmen Twillie (the main vocalist).

And for the record, I very much dislike the “pink pajamas penguins on the bottom” stuff. I get it, it’s cute, but I personally feel it cheapens the song. There’s magic in it, even if the lyrics translate a little…strangely.

#1. Be Prepared

I adore villain songs, and Be Prepared is perhaps my favorite villain song of any Disney character. Jeremy Irons has one of the most delicious voices ever, and the pure venom in his voice just matches Scar’s character so brilliantly. The visuals of the green smoke, the Nazi-inspired hyena march, that part where the hyenas rising on a rock fragment shake their bums to the music…it’s just a visual delicacy to me.

Something else I love about it so much is that the music is frighteningly powerful before the addition of the lyrics. The lyrics, too, feel amazing to speak. Their rhyme and meter provides such interesting poetry, something lots of Disney songs today lack.

Of course, I’m biased with my love of the villain song. But Be Prepared is a gem, often overshadowed by the other songs of the movie. It’s time someone give it the #1 rank it deserves.

Thanks for reading my list! Feel free to comment with your own feels and to share.

And be sure to check out the Platnium Edition of The Lion King, which includes a new song, fully animated!

Get Schwifty: The 30 Best Rick and Morty Tees!

With the new season coming out soon, it’s time that you prepare yourself by getting something from this list: 30 of the dankest Rick and Morty clothing items available. Buy one, look snazzy, rule your couch.

(#17 is a personal favorite)

1. The Standard Wubba Lubba Dub-Dub

2. This Sweet Blips And Chitz Logo

3. Maybe you fancy this ship dumping shirt?

4. Or perhaps the classic, "Get Schwifty"

5. How about some favorite characters?

6. Maybe...some more obscure ones?

7. Or how about everyone's favorite commercial?

8. Or maybe this is your favorite commercial?

9. How about this one?

10. Do you like mash-ups?

11. Or classic art reimagined?

12. However you prefer them, Rick and Morty are pretty difficult not to love

13. I mean, there are so many great quotes!

14. Perfect to work into everyday conversation

15. And if you meet someone who recognizes a quote, surely they'd also appreciate your awesome new shirt!

16. Maybe you want a stylish baby

17. Or the best-dressed at your pajama party

18. Mr. Poopy Butthole, anyone?

19. Or maybe the Hamuari

20. Everyone's favorite sensitive monster

21. Show the world you've got style

22. Maybe Jerry is your favorite character?

23. This cool Meeseeks Box

24. "Run Morty, Run"

25. Wear this instead of bugging the workers at McDonald's

26. This sweet nesting doll-style

27. If you're looking for something more subdued, try this sweatshirt

28. Whether you're carrying tiny Rick around in your pocket,

29. Or sporting their silhouettes,

30. It's clear that Rick and Morty make excellent attire!

The Powerpuff Girls: Cartoon Girl Power For All!

On March 25^th, 2005, The Powerpuff Girls series ended its original run on Cartoon Network. This series finale happened at the request of Craig McCracken, the series’ creator and director, and Chris Savino, a writer-turned-director when McCracken went to work on Foster’s Home in 2002. Upon learning this, I felt it was selfish of them to choose not to continue to a seventh season. In reality, this is probably a blessing in disguise. So many shows wear out their stay with extending seasons until they become obsolete, a fate I am glad didn’t happen to the Girls.

Yes, there was a super-meh anime and a new reboot series made since 2005. But the three little girls who graced my television in 1998 are the best representation of Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup. In my mind, probably the only correct representation (I mean, who doesn’t ask Tara Strong to be Bubbles?)

It’s not as if this new show is a bad one by any means. While McCracken disputed never giving a blessing to the network for the reboot, it doesn’t necessarily make it bad. And not inviting the original voice actors onto the project could be viewed as a means to start new voice acting careers—except for their keeping of Tom Kenny (the Mayor, the Narrator) and Tom Kane (Professor Utonium). Maybe it’s male favoritism. Maybe it’s the VO-Actors-Named-Tom-Get-To-Keep-Their-Jobs club. Who’s to say?

(I also must add Jennifer Hale is still on the show, continuing to voice Miss Keane but not Princess. So there, score one of two).

The thing about a reboot of a series is that they only tend to happen when the series worked in the first place. The reboot of The Powerpuff Girls was an attempt to capitalize on the love that boys and girls alike had for it, bringing some of that millennial-driven wealth into Cartoon Network’s present. While it’s working to an extent, it’s not quite holding up to its ancestor (as if twelve years ago is that much time).

I have a communion with The Powerpuff Girls, one that makes me think of it immediately when naming favorite cartoons, influential shows, shows that helped make me who I am, all that mushy stuff. I thought that maybe I feel protective of the show over its reboot because I have these rose-colored glasses on in my memories. But even watching it in the present, I can’t help but feel my heart warming all over again.

I get teary eyed just thinking about it! Ugh!

Seeing a group of girls be so in control while learning along the way was like the perfect formula for good childhood programming. Seeing the Powerpuff Girls fight in a world where the audience saw both how they were respected by Townsville natives but undermined by the unsuspecting brought a realistic balance to the show. I saw how women should be treated and how they are often looked down upon, too. I saw what happened to the characters that thought less of the girls because of their gender, their size, their appearance, their whatever. I learned how any personality can be the hero of the story, regardless of some other person’s inability to comprehend how that’s possible.

This gif set is from one of my favorite episodes, where the girls beat the grown men in all the stupid competitions they feel they need to have to prove their masculinity. I especially loved Bubbles being the one who did the “manly” chores, being considered the sweetest of the group. I first identified with Bubbles because of that “girlie” trait, along with her blonde hair. Today I still do, plus I mow the lawn.

The Professor’s single dad experience is refreshing too because he always was good at letting his daughters be. Parenting took place, of course, but he never told the girls that they couldn’t be who they are, whether it meant being tough, bossy, or sensitive.

While there are many reasons for my love, I wanted to focus on this main point: the gender roles of The Powerpuff Girls were ones that every child could benefit from learning about. It is great that there is a new show that allows for today’s children to get a taste of why the show is so awesome. While it may not have the same sparkle to it as the original, or even the same voice cast, I’m glad to know that Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup are available to continue to remind kids, especially little girls, that they can kick ass and be whoever they wish. We need to remember that we all can save the world, in our own way, before bedtime. If that means taking lessons from my favorite cartoon superheroes, then so be it.

Coming Soon: Animal Crackers

Here’s a concept test for an upcoming animated film, Animal Crackers. It tells the story of a family who comes across a magical box of animal crackers, and the results are…well, just watch the video.

Or better yet, follow the link to the Animation Recalibration Tumblr to read the full article!

Voice Actors You Didn’t Know You Loved: Robie Lester

The Raisin Bran grapes, the Sugar Smacks’ jingle singer, the narrator and singer of dozens of Disney children’s records…these are just a few of the roles that Robie Lester made memorable, entering the homes of millions and touching the lives of many children daily with her voice and talent. Being interested in voice over and the great VO artists in history, I always love discovering names and learning how they’ve impacted my life without my knowledge. I thought it fitting to start an ongoing series of these people, entitled “Voice Actors You Didn’t Know You Loved.”

I discovered Robie Lester when researching cartoon cereal mascots for Cereal Day on March 7^th, and was quite pleased to see her large and impressive resume. I also love seeing a woman breaking ground in the industry. I will say, it is very important to note the success of many female voice over artists, both from the past and in our present. Many of the most successful female artists provide voices for male characters. Still, to see a lesser-known actor pair up with names such as Mel Blanc, as Lester did, allows for me to raise up that lesser-known actor in my mind, not letting history forget her, or push her aside.

Now let’s begin a lookback at some of Robie Lester’s most memorable career roles!

Working with Kellogg’s

Lester was an extremely busy voice actor in the 60s with her Kellogg’s commercial work. The work she did alongside Mel Blanc was voicing Toucan Sam’s infant nephews. Blanc voiced Toucan Sam. Lester was a great singer and found that she could get work best if she paired her singing voice with her ability to do character voices, which is how she found work voicing one of the battling Smackin’ Brothers for Sugar Smacks on top of singing the cereal’s commercial jingle. And before the claymated California Raisins of the 80s, Lester voiced the grapes of Raisin Bran’s commercials in the 60s. Listen below for one of her credits:

Delighting kids and parents alike with her success in cereal commercials was just the beginning of Lester’s career entertaining children. Her next chapter was memorable not in the advertising world, but in the what we today call the audiobook industry.

Disneyland’s Story Reader

After her cereal years, Lester was brought to the attention of Disney’s in-house record label by Richard and Robert Sherman (The Sherman Brothers of Mary Poppins fame, among others). It was then that she got the role that welcomed her into the homes of many in a different way than television commercials. Recording songs and narration as the “Disneyland Story Reader” granted her a resume of dozens of works, for which she both narrated and sang to children on tape.

The Haunted Mansion brought Lester’s talent to another popular voice actor of the time, Thurl Ravenscroft, who sang “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” for the animated Dr. Seuss Christmas special. Speaking of cereal, he also was the original voice of Frosted Flakes’ Tony the Tiger. Lester also held her own in The Haunted Mansion story alongside Ron Howard, who played Richie Cunningham on Happy Days and the became the Oscar-winning director of many films, such as Apollo 13, The Da Vinci Code, and A Beautiful Mind (for which he earned the award).

Lester earned a famous phrase during her time with Disney, telling children to turn the page “when Tinker Bell rings her little bells,” after which children would hear windchimes. Lester’s success with this project continued to bring her praise in the form of a Grammy nomination in 1970 for The Aristocats album.

Singing Voices and Christmas Treasurers

Lastly, some of the most notable work that Robie Lester did was for films and television. Showing us that even live-action film sometime needs voice over, Lester provided the singing voice to Vera Ralston in Accused of Murder. Back to her Disney ties, Lester continued to provide the singing voice to the characters Duchess the Cat in The Aristocats and Bianca the Mouse in The Rescuers. For both Duchess and Bianca, Lester sang for Eva Gabor’s speaking role.

On television, Lester’s roles in The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo helped make the show memorable, though short-lived. And perhaps one of her most notable roles is her work as Miss Jessica in the timeless TV special, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. Again, this role gave Lester the opportunity to hold her own against Mickey Rooney as Kris Kringle and the film’s narrator, Fred Astaire. For the film, Lester wrote and performed “My World is Beginning Today” for her character, the woman who goes on to become Mrs. Claus.

In 2005, Robie Lester died of cancer in Burbank, California at the age of 80. Lester led a life that provided so much joy for so many people, especially children, many of whom may have never known who she even was. While her early work for commercials may no longer be in circulation, Lester’s voice will always be available in her Disney narrations and on the DVDs of the beloved shows and movies (or perhaps even on a worn-out VHS tape). This woman is important for her work and should be viewed as a great, just like her costars have been. I recognize and admire Robie Lester for her accomplishments and her legacy.

Netflix’s The Little Prince (2015) Review

The idea of watching The Little Prince felt like a weird but welcomed trip back to French class. I felt like the film was fairly hyped by Netflix (or at least by my Netflix account) but I never got around to watching it. So, last night at 3 in the morning, I thought what better time than the present!

I felt that there was a smart structure to most of the film. We go along with the Aviator (Jeff Bridges) telling the Little Prince’s story to the unnamed Little Girl (Makenzie Foy). I felt like the incorporation of the Little Girl’s story with her busy and extremely “grown-up” mother (Rachel McAdams) was a great pairing to the Aviator’s story, complimenting the nature of the Little Prince and the idea that “growing up isn’t the problem, forgetting is.”

Another great pairing is that of the styles of animation. The stop motion used to handle the book’s narration is charming and simplistic, just like the character of the book itself. The beauty in the almost cellophane-like texture to the fox’s tail is just a small example of how it made those parts of the movie feel like a magical animated storybook.

I felt like the film was amazing up until the point of the Aviator’s time in the hospital. When the Little Girl runs away with his plane and finds the real Little Prince, now Mr. Prince (Paul Rudd) on a new planet of skyscrapers, suddenly we were in a different story. I continued to think that this was a dream sequence of some sort, which ultimately proved false. While it was cool to see her have her own adventure similar to the style of the Aviator’s, there was something forced about it that felt equivalent to why people get upset when new material is added to their favorite book’s movie adaptation: while the balance of the Little Girl’s story worked for the purpose of a film, it started to feel like they were trying to improve upon the book.

The thing with the Little Girl’s solo (with stuffed fox) journey was that it felt like the point was to show her (or us as the audience?) that the Aviator’s stories of the Little Prince were real. But “it is only with heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” Why did we need to see any of this? Why make it take up such a significant portion of the movie’s close? I think if the idea was to show there was truth to the stories, a smaller and more powerful cameo could have been made to keep in line with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s simplistic style.

If the idea was to show that even the Little Prince himself was susceptible to growing up, well then I suppose I appreciate the sentiment, but not so much the execution.

What I really wanted to see was some sort of Little Prince magic worked on the mother. The scene with her and her daughter looking through the telescope was something like that, but just not nearly enough for me. There was a missed plotline in not allowing for the mother, overworked and overstressed, to discover the same lessons as her daughter. I think that a more poignant message would have shown, one appealing to any “adult” viewers who might have seen some of themselves in her character.

So overall, I felt like this movie was imaginative, touching, but needed to focus on the mom in a way that didn’t make her appear to be only a supporting character.

Aaaand the stuffed fox was super cute. I need to get me one of those.

First Post, Yall

Hi friends,

I’ve been wanting to do more with my love for animation for a while now, more than just a Tumblr that is, and I think this blog may hold some answers.

My hope is that I can use Animation Recalibration to do just that: calibrate. Of course, this means determining figures with a set of tools, but for this site, I’m going to use my tools to analyze movies, television, new media, whatever, reviewing what went right and maybe what could have gone in a different direction, all with the intention to recalibrate your love for animation (okay maybe I’m not using that right, but the intention still stands).

I am first and foremost an actor, so voice acting is a strong interest of mine, as well as writing and simply the spectacle of animation in general. I’m going to talk about new material as well as the old stuff I dig up at my local Goodwill, the things I find on the Internet and the material I helped create for the web.

And, I’m starting to make a podcast that wraps this stuff all together.

I appreciate your readership and hope you will enjoy this journey I’m about to take.

That’s all, folks!

–April of Animation Recalibration