Animation animates me
I’ve got a soft spot for animated pictures. Not motion pictures; that’s like something from the time of my grandmother. Rather, I’m talking about a class of entertainment that relies on some decent drawings linked with some great voice-overs. The neat part is that I can watch them more than once, unlike the largest part of ordinary Hollywood fare. Finally, a reason to own a DVD player.
Look at some of the better content. Lion King, a keeper. Toy Story (without having seen the latest, I know I’m going to like it). Ice Age, good fun. Right now, the TV has Bee Movie on schedule, and Jerry Seinfeld is funny even when you can’t see him. Antz. A Bug’s Life.
Wait, I think there’s a pattern emerging here. Lots of insect characters, because we know they can talk. Jungle animals. Toys from the box under the bed. In all cases, there’s a willing suspension of reality, and that’s what movies are supposed to bring us. It’s just not the same for the average people flick. I mean, last evening we watched Starsky And Hutch (the newer version), and the highlight was a cameo by the original duo. Not much of a premise there.
That might be a goal: collect as many of the decent animated flicks as I can, just so there’ll be something to watch despite the mediocrity of the Oscar chasers. I can have theme weekends. I can start to memorize great dialog. I can be a fan while avoiding the familiarity of “star faces”.
