Written for the blogathon hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Join us (we regulars are a friendly group!) by picking three movies that meet the week's theme and telling everyone about them.
I love animated movies. Always have. They have the ability to do much more, to be more creative, than live-action movies, because of the simple fact that they aren't tethered to reality in any way shape or form. This week I wanted to shine a light on some lesser-known films that should be just as beloved as any Disney or Pixar classic.
Allegro Non Troppo (Bruno Bozzetto, 1976) This is kind of cheating a little, as there is a live-action "frame story" in this Italian parody of Disney's Fantasia. Bozzetto goes a little meta here, telling the story of an animator who comes up with what he thinks is an original idea (animation set to classical music), and finds out it's already been done by an American. But he decides to make his own version anyway, using an orchestra of old ladies. But the animated sequences are at the heart of the film, and they are each completely different and stunning in their own way. There's the ersatz evolution story set to Ravel's "Bolero", the exploration of mob mentality in Dvorak's "Slavonic Dance No. 7, Op. 46", and a version of the Adam and Eve story accompanied by Stravinsky's "Firebird". And then, my favorite, this sequence set to Sibelius's "Valse Triste". I dare you not to shed a tear.
Mary & Max (Adam Elliot, 2009) I don't think I have the words to express my love of this Australian oddity, except to say that if you haven't seen it, you should drop whatever it is you are doing and do so this instant. I mean it. The story of a young Australian girl and an older Jewish American man who become the most unlikely of pen pals is funny, heartfelt, and wise beyond belief. I love it so, and only partially because the end makes me weep buckets.
Sita Sings the Blues (Nina Paley, 2009) If you haven't seen Sita Sings the Blues yet, why the hell not? It's FREE online! Nina Paley released it under a Creative Commons license, having become a leading member of the free culture movement after experiencing trouble getting the rights to certain Annette Hanshaw songs she wanted to use in the film. Fiendishly clever and devilishly funny, Paley's adaptation of the Hindu epic "The Ramayana" is a gorgeous, flawless piece of animation, encompassing multiple different styles across its two story strands: One the traditional story, told from the point of view of the hero's wife, and the other Paley's own story of how her husband ended their relationship. The two stories have more in common than you might think, and part of the fun is in watching what new, eye-popping things Paley is going to try next to tell her story.
Wow, you really went out there with these. I haven't seen or heard of any of them. These all sound really interesting. I'll will have to do as you say and check them out. :)
Interesting, different choices none of which I've seen. Someone else mentioned Mary & Max and I might give that a shot. I'm just not an animation fan, if I'm going to take the time to watch a film I'd rather watch actors than animation. I respect the art it's just not for me.So it was a bit of a struggle to come up with three but by bending the rules for one I managed, after much toil these are the three I came up with:
Pink Floyd-The Wall (1982)-Isolated from everyone a rock star quickly descends into madness. Not wholly animated this strange film starts off with a live action segment then after about twenty minutes is interspersed with animated sequences, often quite disturbing, all set to Pink Floyd’s music.
The Rescuers (1977)-Two mice on the Rescue Aid Society, Bernard and Miss Bianca voiced by the odd couple pairing of Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor, attempt to rescue little Penny who has been kidnapped by the evil Madame Medusa and her gang as they search for treasure in Devil's Bayou. Fun if minor Disney is set apart by the great voice work of the unexpectedly simpatico Newhart and Gabor and the awesome Geraldine Page as Medusa.
101 Dalmatians (1961)-Cruella de Vil wants a Dalmatian coat and she and her evil minions will do anything to get one. Adult Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita set out to rescue the title pups from the fate she has planned. Will she be stopped in time? Classic Disney.
The Wall is so weird. I've only seen it once but I feel like I need to see it again to really get it.
The Rescuers was one of my favorites when I was a kid, but I haven't seen it since. I remember my grandparents loving that it was Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca. 101 Dalmations I liked much more; it's one of the Disney films that I saw so many times on VHS that I have whole sections of it memorized.
I know you're not an animation fan, but you should definitely give Mary & Max and at least some of the Allegro non troppo segments a try. The voice work in the former is stellar and the world it creates is truly unique. And the latter has some truly out there "it was the 70s and everyone was high as fuck" stuff in it, as well as the beautiful sad cat segment I posted.
I LOVE Sita but given your proclivities it's probably not for you. But at least watch the opening credits to see how creative and beautiful it is.
I haven't seen any of these! I really want to see the Fantasia (sort of) remake, but I should probably see Fantasia first, right? I really want to see Mary and Max..like so bad!
You do not have to see Fantasia first in order to enjoy Allegro non troppo. You can watch the segments on their own, in any order, too, but I quite enjoy the connecting live-action material. Mary & Max is great and streaming on Netflix, I'm pretty sure.
Wow, I didn't think I would come across films I've never heard of this week but I stand corrected! All three of these sound really interesting, I'll have to check them out :) - Allie
I haven't heard of any of these. My animation game is weak. The Italian one seems really cool and Mary & Max has popped up a couple times now. Need to step it up, I guess.
Wow, you really went out there with these. I haven't seen or heard of any of them. These all sound really interesting. I'll will have to do as you say and check them out. :)
ReplyDeleteOh please do - I look forward to seeing what you think!
DeleteWow, Interesting choices, only seen Mary and Max and it made me weep buckets too.
ReplyDeleteUGH Mary & Max is SO GOOD.
DeleteMary and Max was so depressing! Been meaning to watch Sita Sings the Blues!
ReplyDeleteI know, but it's also beautiful, no?
DeleteSita Sings the Blues is SO great. Beautifully done on every level.
Woohoo, not many people pick Japanese animes so far!
ReplyDelete...yeah, I'm not a fan of Japanese anime, generally speaking.
DeleteInteresting, different choices none of which I've seen. Someone else mentioned Mary & Max and I might give that a shot. I'm just not an animation fan, if I'm going to take the time to watch a film I'd rather watch actors than animation. I respect the art it's just not for me.So it was a bit of a struggle to come up with three but by bending the rules for one I managed, after much toil these are the three I came up with:
ReplyDeletePink Floyd-The Wall (1982)-Isolated from everyone a rock star quickly descends into madness. Not wholly animated this strange film starts off with a live action segment then after about twenty minutes is interspersed with animated sequences, often quite disturbing, all set to Pink Floyd’s music.
The Rescuers (1977)-Two mice on the Rescue Aid Society, Bernard and Miss Bianca voiced by the odd couple pairing of Bob Newhart and Eva Gabor, attempt to rescue little Penny who has been kidnapped by the evil Madame Medusa and her gang as they search for treasure in Devil's Bayou. Fun if minor Disney is set apart by the great voice work of the unexpectedly simpatico Newhart and Gabor and the awesome Geraldine Page as Medusa.
101 Dalmatians (1961)-Cruella de Vil wants a Dalmatian coat and she and her evil minions will do anything to get one. Adult Dalmatians Pongo and Perdita set out to rescue the title pups from the fate she has planned. Will she be stopped in time? Classic Disney.
The Wall is so weird. I've only seen it once but I feel like I need to see it again to really get it.
DeleteThe Rescuers was one of my favorites when I was a kid, but I haven't seen it since. I remember my grandparents loving that it was Eva Gabor as Miss Bianca. 101 Dalmations I liked much more; it's one of the Disney films that I saw so many times on VHS that I have whole sections of it memorized.
I know you're not an animation fan, but you should definitely give Mary & Max and at least some of the Allegro non troppo segments a try. The voice work in the former is stellar and the world it creates is truly unique. And the latter has some truly out there "it was the 70s and everyone was high as fuck" stuff in it, as well as the beautiful sad cat segment I posted.
I LOVE Sita but given your proclivities it's probably not for you. But at least watch the opening credits to see how creative and beautiful it is.
I haven't seen any of these! I really want to see the Fantasia (sort of) remake, but I should probably see Fantasia first, right? I really want to see Mary and Max..like so bad!
ReplyDeleteYou do not have to see Fantasia first in order to enjoy Allegro non troppo. You can watch the segments on their own, in any order, too, but I quite enjoy the connecting live-action material. Mary & Max is great and streaming on Netflix, I'm pretty sure.
DeleteWow, I didn't think I would come across films I've never heard of this week but I stand corrected! All three of these sound really interesting, I'll have to check them out :)
ReplyDelete- Allie
Awesome! Definitely seek them out, they all have great things about them.
DeleteI've only seen Mary and Max. Loved it so much, I picked it myself.
ReplyDeleteMary & Max is <3
DeleteI haven't heard of any of these. My animation game is weak. The Italian one seems really cool and Mary & Max has popped up a couple times now. Need to step it up, I guess.
ReplyDeleteIf you like Fantasia, definitely check out Allegro non troppo. If not, check out the clips I linked to first.
DeleteMary & Max is totally worthy. As is Sita Sings the Blues, if only for how beautifully, non-traditionally animated it is.
Not heard of two of these films. But I have seen Mary & Max, such a sad film.
ReplyDeleteLove Mary & Max, even though it is SO sad.
DeleteDefinitely seek out the other two!