Arrested Development Appreciation Post

Arrested Development Appreciation Post

This must be very shocking for you reader. For one of the few times I am not talking about an animated cartoon or comic, but an actual live-action sitcom that aired on Fox almost a decade ago. Yes, I am an avid fan of Arrested Development I can continuously watch the same episodes of this show over and over because of how well its done. The design of the show was really well thought out from the narrator to the interweaving of the characters. I deeply love how their interactions play out with one another. As an Illustration major, my deepest passion is in character development and this show has some of the best. 

I mean from Jason Bateman's portrayal of the uptight but ever well meaning Michael Bluith, to his son George Michael Bluith that has a secret crush on his cousin Maebe. The show's comedy and wit would not work without the cast of misfit characters that make up the Bluith family. This includes my all time favorite characters Tobias and Gob. Although my love of them would not even exist without their interactions with the rest of the family. All in all this show is a joy to watch for fun as well as for being a designer. It has taught me a lot about the importance of characters. If the characters weren't who they are, the show wouldn't work the same way as it does so well. I'm eagerly awaiting the unexpected, but exciting arrival of the new season this month I hope the humor and wit has stayed intact. 

Rango Appreciation Post

Rango Appreciation Post

When I first watched Rango I didn't really like it. The film was confusing and I felt like the creators were all high. It didn't occur until after several viewings how ingenious this film actually is. Not only is the animation cinematography freaking gorgeous, the plot of the film is really well done. Although the variety of characters can at times be almost too much, the creators tastefully weave them as to not be too distracting to the overall flow of the story. My favorite character is obviously Rango played by the amazing Johnny Depp. His character is a nobody at the beginning of the film, but creates a purpose and character for himself as the story unfolds. The overall style of the film is unique as it utilizes the technology of motion capture to create a vividly stunning world. 

Also the subject is well done. It's a take on the spaghetti westerns of the 1960's and 70's, primarily The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. They even have Blondie appear in the film as a spiritual guide to Rango as the chameleon tries to find his purpose in his own story. I also enjoyed the aspect that every so often the characters would break the third wall. Rango himself acknowledges that the hero himself cannot run out of his own story and at the beginning creates a basic reason for the plot to start. He stands in his tank at the beginning intellectually trying to understand how the main character needs to be forced into action or conflict and the plot force follows from there. It was very witty and a unique way of pushing the plot. Although the film was advertised to children, I find Rango to be one of the first animated films to be better liked amongst adults and critiques. It doesn't play down its plot for the kids, it just keeps going and following its own quirky tune. 

Paranorman Appreciation Post

Paranorman Appreciation Post

This movie was beyond adorable. Not only did it have a decent plot and overall important message, the animation was great eye candy. Paranorman comes from the stop-motion animation studio that created one of my all time favorite movies Coraline, but this time they've created a story all their own. Basically it's about a kid named Norman that can see ghosts. No one believes him and thinks he is weird. Now as luck would have it a three hundred year old curse finally occurs upon Norman's hometown and only he can stop it. I really love Norman his voice actor did a great job and it's easy to relate to his plight as a social outcast, but his character development is great especially his gravity defying hair. Now I can go on all day about the beautiful details in doing stop-motion and that are well done in this film, but I won't. The characters make this film. From the crazy towns people to Norman's hot guy hunting sister, to his crazy uncle the characters forward the plot. I loved this movie and although it did have a lot of characters, it did not feel overloaded. Each one got their air time and interwove with the rest so well. I recommend this movie not only to children that have to deal with bullying, but adults and art lovers as well. 

I mean who doesn't love a bunch of quirky kids trying to solve a town's curse? It's like a modern day version of The Goonies without the truffle shuffle. Paranorman is definitely an awkwardly beautiful diamond in an otherwise three dimensionally animated world. 

Sword in the Stone Appreciation Post

The Sword in the Stone Appreciation Post

Okay, I love this film. Although it's not amongst Disney animation studio's most popular films it holds a dear spot in my heart. This film came out in 1963. It was the last film Walt Disney would be apart of before he died. The plot is simple and based off the founding of King Arthur, yet the most well developed character has got to be Merlin. I absolutely love the old man. He's adorable and his attitude as well as mannerisms are designed so well. His character acts as an old wizard would, at one point in the story he uses his beard as a feather duster. This simple action won me over to Merlin's character. Also his voice actor Karl Swenson did a great job giving life to the cartoon. 

As for Arthur himself, he is very much like a twelve year old boy. He acts curious to the unknown world, but still follows his own dreams and desires. This at times puts him against his mentor Merlin. The two though make a great combination and adding Merlin's owl Archimedes  to the mix made the interactions more interesting. Both Merlin and Archimedes have very different teaching styles that they try to instill upon poor Arthur. Backgrounds and animation are highly fluid and well done. All in all a great little gem of a film. It's watched more for the characters than the plot and sometimes that's just nice.