What do you think of the Bakshi cartoon? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lalwendë · 01-01-2013, 09:03 AM

Just got to say, rotoscope wasn't innovative, it was invented way back in 1915 and was used extensively in the industry, including in Disney's Snow White which people often hold up as a great example of animation. So that wasn't the 'issue' with the film. Nor was Bakshi - he's actually really good, and any other fan of the late 60s Spider-Man cartoons will agree. I grew up on those and the little guy also loves them (thanks to me finding the DVDs in Poundland of all places).

But I saw the Bakshi cartoon at completely the wrong time. In the mid-80s. By then I was well aware that some kind of live action version was perfectly possible as ITV was showing Robin Of Sherwood which was just superb (and still is). An animation with Aragorn in undies wasn't going to cut it for me. And the Hobbits were totally wrong; then as now my benchmark is always the Hobbits. If they look like Tyrion Lannister, garden gnomes or horrible fantasy ornaments that your nan bought from a gift shop in Cleethorpes then it's something I don't want to see, thanks.

However, nowadays, I can enjoy it. Not just because Bakshi did my favourite Spider-Man cartoons, but because it's a kitsch classic. I rank it with Flash Gordon (saw this last night again - it's epic), Barbarella, Blake's 7, something from the decades when sf/fantasy was all about being fun and colourful and bizarre.

01-01-2013, 09:03 AM	#20
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Just got to say, rotoscope wasn't innovative, it was invented way back in 1915 and was used extensively in the industry, including in Disney's Snow White which people often hold up as a great example of animation. So that wasn't the 'issue' with the film. Nor was Bakshi - he's actually really good, and any other fan of the late 60s Spider-Man cartoons will agree. I grew up on those and the little guy also loves them (thanks to me finding the DVDs in Poundland of all places). But I saw the Bakshi cartoon at completely the wrong time. In the mid-80s. By then I was well aware that some kind of live action version was perfectly possible as ITV was showing Robin Of Sherwood which was just superb (and still is). An animation with Aragorn in undies wasn't going to cut it for me. And the Hobbits were totally wrong; then as now my benchmark is always the Hobbits. If they look like Tyrion Lannister, garden gnomes or horrible fantasy ornaments that your nan bought from a gift shop in Cleethorpes then it's something I don't want to see, thanks. However, nowadays, I can enjoy it. Not just because Bakshi did my favourite Spider-Man cartoons, but because it's a kitsch classic. I rank it with Flash Gordon (saw this last night again - it's epic), Barbarella, Blake's 7, something from the decades when sf/fantasy was all about being fun and colourful and bizarre. __________________ Gordon's alive!