Sunday, April 22, 2007

Animation Recommendation: Bugs Bunny on Broadway

OK, so this isn't exactly the "pick it up on DVD" recommendation that I would normally give... but then, if by some bizarre means you've never been exposed to the Looney Tunes characters at all, there's several DVD sets out there demanding your attention. No, this is specifically for the cartoons-and-symphony mix that is "Bugs Bunny on Broadway", which has been several places already before making it to Spokane just this weekend... and if it's already been done in your area, and you didn't get to see it, here's hoping it'll make an encore appearance one of these days.

At any rate, I should tell you what it is I'm pushing on you... it's multiple "relatively safe" Warner Brothers cartoons (that is, they're showable in their entirety to the general public without needing to edit out content considered unsavory by today's standards), with the music track on most of them being performed in sync by your local symphony orchestra. There were some decisions made in the Spokane show that I have to question (quick-mixed solo and full symphony bits in The Rabbit of Seville pop to mind, due to relative volume issues), but on the whole it was great fun. Seeing these cartoons on the Big Screen, the way they were meant to be seen, plus the freshness of the live music, plus the pure laughter of children in the audience who were obviously being exposed to this for the first time... this is something I can heartily recommend to you all.

5 comments:

delRhode said...

Honestly, I haven't seen one in a while... from the look of their site (www.spikeandmike.com/), they're nowhere near Spokane these days... on the other hand, it also says they've got themselves a new DVD... hmm....

Matt said...

Just watched Vol. One of The Animation Show, Mike Judge's (King of the Hill) version of Spike and Mike. I'd advise against it unless you really are into the "art" that goes into animation. Depressing stories in claymation (all in gray). A "Fantastic Planet"-like piece (also all in gray). Beth fell asleep.

delRhode said...

You see, that's what makes/made Spike & Mike's stuff worthwhile... yeah, they had some 'artistic' stuff (primarily in their "standard" festival, but to a lesser extent in the "sick & twisted" side), but there was always some funny/perverse/frightening bits to be had as well. Shows the importance of a well-balanced diet when it comes to animation, I'm thinking.

Beth said...

Here. The only one worth watching. (Matt reshowed it after I woke up.)

delRhode said...

Fun 'toon... and of course, while I was in Seattle, my movie-and-animation buff brother pointed that collection out as something to be seen... I guess I might get around to it, one of these years... :)