Warning: I'm about to criticize a cartoon that I haven't seen yet (it hasn't been made), that I've only seen two tentative concept drawings from (one shown above, topmost), and whose story I only know from a description in the newspaper. Not only that but I'm terribly hurt that they didn't ask me to work on it so I may, without knowing it, have a mean, small-minded desire to snipe at it from the sidelines. There, that's my disclaimer. Now the criticism...I have to say that I'm wondering if the project is getting started on the wrong foot. According to the newspaper the story is about Goofy's attempt to install a new, high-tech TV in his house. Is that really a good idea? It's the type of premise that has no suprises built in. The gags and the acting could all be predictable. Not only that but it's a frustration story and frustration premises (like Pluto and the flypaper) tend to pass on their frustration and unease to the audience. When you think about it, the best Goofys - the ice hockey, football, and basketball cartoons, aren't about frustration. They may seem to be, but they're not.
On another subject, it seems to me that subtext of every good Goofy cartoon is the weird universe that Goofy inhabits and the delight the character takes in doing things with his amazingly agile hands and feet. The character is a full-animator's dream. He's also a physical actor's dream. Goofy is not the average guy next door any more than James Bond is the average spy. Goofy and Bond are hyper-characters and anything less than star-quality scenes will diminish them. Goofy can either exude charisma and magic as in the best Kinney cartoons or he can be a bland guy-next-door-type the way Reitherman treated him. Which way will Disney go? I guess we'll see.
Thanks to Amid's "Animation Blast" for the excellent Sibley animation drawing above. Drawings copyrighted by Disney.
Well, if this was indeed a story about frustration, then Donald would be more suited.
ReplyDeleteBut, I think (and hope) that it will be more like Goofy Gymnastics inwhich Goofy tries to get in shape with workout equipment. Sure everything he picks up and uses backfires on him but he's always content with the result. I'm hoping this new cartoon plays out like that (If the animators and/or directors know what they're doing anyway).
I agree with David. Donald Duck would have been a better choice. Donald had a way to solve problems that Goofy couldn't.
ReplyDeleteWhen Donald built the air plane and it started to melt when it rained. How did Donald handle it? Fighting the elements, breaking the very laws of nature and still with no success in keeping the plane together. He went down fighting to the end.
Don't get me wrong I like Goofy cartoons. Like, Eddie said, Goofy is a hyper-character and anything less than star-quality scenes will diminish his performance. Like the "How to's" Goofy cartoons that made him famous.
They should make one with Goofy in it called "How to be the President." Not saying that the one in office, now, is like that. It could be more educational for the younger audiences and funny for the adults to relate to. Because running a country is no easy task.
Example: of a Goofy cartoon I'd like to see.
Meetings with the press. Flash bulbs blind him and he bumps into the flags and then gets wrapped up in one of the flags in the press room and trips and falls over into the ocean of reporters asking him questions.
He struggles to to fight his way out of the sea of reporters bombarding him with questions on war, the economy, and education.
Just when you think he is going down for the last time. The vice-president throws in a life preserver with the words "Camp David" written on it.
But, that's a totally different subject. Best of luck to them. Hope they can pull it off.
hahhaha i totally agree. as a kid i hated seeing those pluto cartoons.. they just made me really upset and angry, i just wanted it to end. I also agree that goofy is such a great character and i am always blown away by the guys that know how to animate him all crazy and fluid. It must be at times difficult to animate inventive goofy movements, but then its better than having to animate a boring regular character.
ReplyDeleteNo frustrations cartoons. I don't want to watch cartoons about anthropomorphic dogs getting pissed at stuff. The entire time, I'll be thinking, "Just follow the damn instructions and get the job completed already."
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, there are tons of things in the modern world Goofy could demonstrate the way he used to demonstrate sports.
ReplyDeleteDriving in city traffic. Jury duty. Inline skating. Airline travel.
Hey, just be glad that Disney executive Sharon Morrill isn't involved, or this Goofy would REALLY be a laugh riot. Why hasn't Pixar gone in and fired all those tv animation deadwood suits, as they allegedly did in Features? And how about that Disney layoff yesterday? The world is a carousel of color.
ReplyDelete"Goofy is not the average guy next door any more than James Bond is the average spy. Goofy and Bond are hyper-characters and anything less than star-quality scenes will diminish them."
ReplyDeleteEddie you're the only one who can put James Bond and Goofy in the same setences. As for this new toon, all I am going to say is I really have no faith in classic cartoon revivals anymore.
Classic cartoon revivals are doomed by no money, unfunny and unskilled creative execs with approval at every production phase, and overseas studio animation. There's also the matter of the too-short schedules in television animation, a hurdle not even Pixar wants to deal with...
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid this short is gonna end up like something you would've seen on the "House of Mouse" series from a few years back, or worse, "Goof Troop." The animation, of course, would be sub-par TV quality. Nothing even close to classic Goofy. Although, if they go too far, like the big budget quality of something like Mickey's "Runaway Brain," it could lose its appeal too.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it could be wonderful. But we'll see. Disney could really get it right if they get a talented crew (but I'm not holding my breath). And yeah, why isn't Eddie hired on for this?? I also agree the premise could work, where it would be less 'frustration' and more 'victim of backfire.'
what are your thoughts on hentai?? I think John K could do a kickass version of it (I dont mean naked beach frenzy, that stuff was freakin tame)
ReplyDeleteMaybe large corporations shouldn't continue using certain characters after the original creators are gone. It's the talent and the personalities of the original cartoonists that made classic characters what they were. Once the original talent has left, the characters should "retire" in their full glory, instead letting newcomers (who don't seem to understand where the original humor came from)in to destroy them and water them down. I've seen recent Goofy cartoons and they just seem like they should have never even been attempted. The same goes for Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and all those great characters.
ReplyDeleteStyles of humor change throughout the decades. The humor of Goofy and Bugs Bunny cartoons were great in the 30's and 40's because that's what the humor was actually like back then, so the cartoonists were the best and inspired by the best. They were actually living in the times; It was in their everyday lives. Recent cartoons which star classic characters try to revive that, but they try to dig for gag styles that were made over 50 years ago, while also adding modern watered-down humor, so most have trouble grasping that. Most gags they come up with either don't fit, or they are cliches of themselves. Goofy was funny in the 1930's and 40's, but I don't think he would be funny in 2007, wiring a high-tech TV anymore than Laurel and Hardy (some of my very favorite comedians) would. What's funnier? Laurel and Hardy trying to move an old piano during the 1930's, or Laurel and Hardy at the mall trying to program a cell phone?
as a kid i hated seeing those pluto cartoons.. they just made me really upset and angry, i just wanted it to end.
ReplyDeletei really hated those cartoons as well. the ones with the crab were especially unpleasant
as a kid i hated seeing those pluto cartoons.. they just made me really upset and angry, i just wanted it to end.
ReplyDeletei really hated those cartoons as well. the ones with the crab were especially unpleasant
"Goofy was funny in the 1930's and 40's, but I don't think he would be funny in 2007, wiring a high-tech TV anymore than Laurel and Hardy (some of my very favorite comedians) would."
ReplyDeleteYou could pump out gags out of any situation really, past or present. But as I said before I have no hope in classic cartoon revials because complete idiots are hired or geniuses are hired but the exces are constantly on there asses.
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ReplyDeleteI haven't seen anything on the new cartoon either, but I do think this premise would be better suited for Donald Duck than Goofy.
ReplyDeleteI think Goofy works best in situations that require enormous physical skill. Then the animation team can render him just barely getting through the demonstation with spectacular clumsiness!
As a kid, I liked seeing a man walk around in a Goofy costume at Disneyland more than I ever, ever liked any of his or the other cartoons by Disney.
ReplyDeleteI'm just stuck on those colors... Youch!
ReplyDeleteHow about a post on how to draw hands, Eddie?
Katz: I'll see what I can do.
ReplyDelete"I never liked any Disney cartoons but at least the old ones were on film and painted by hand and inked by band on cels and stuff."
ReplyDeleteHow many extra chromosomes do you have Jorge?
I agree with those saying Donald is much more suited to a frustrated situation such as installing a TV. Goofy really needs to be doing something physical. I don't consider myself a huge Goofy fan (Donald's my fav), but the episode where he tries to ski is a classic.
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, any new toon short from Disney is worth keeping an eye on, hopefully it'll turn out worth watching.