There was a pretty decent show about animation on Bravo last night. Some great clips from the last 90 years or so... the badly drawn host segments detracted a bit, but it was nice to see footage from "Prince Achmed", "Gertie" and other classics. They had a clip of a new Korean film, "Empress Chung", which looks rather Miyazaki. Did anyone else catch this?

-- Inu (paul@nadisrec.com), September 27, 2003

Answers

I saw Prince Achmed in entirety a few weeks ago. What a strange animation that was. I've never heard of it before but it was obviously an artistic achievement, it made me feel as if I was on acid though. Wonder what the thinking was behind that sort of animation... Not seen the show on Bravo though. I actually turned it off when I saw the early animations, some of that early stuff is too crude for me. Would like to have seen Empress Chung, should'a held on. Lady Morgan nice to see you around girl!

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), September 29, 2003.

Empress Chung reminds me of that anime dream I had a long time ago of a beautiful oriental anime princess lying in state with multiple cute forest animals crying. Dreamscape accompanied by the beautiful music of Pavan's 'Requiem for a dead princess'. Empress Chung Nelson Shin has a major background and is from NORTH Korea, (oops)! Although looks like he wasn't fond of their goosestepping ways. Nelson Shin

-- Barb e. (Suesuesbeo9@cs.com), October 02, 2003.

Was that "Prince Achmed" in black and white and a german film i believe?

-- Lady Morgan (Aeonfluxfan@hotmail.com), September 28, 2003.

It sure was! Apparently they used tinted film to simulate colors.

It's interesting; the cutout animation looked primitive, yet very stylized and deliberate. It seems like people are attempting that "look" again (i.e. Samurai Jack, Dexter, Ninjai...)

-- Inu (paul@nadisrec.com), September 29, 2003.

Oh! Kay, are the boards working again for you?

Good to see you back here =)

-- Inu (paul@nadisrec.com), September 29, 2003.

hello Paul, :O) I haven't had trouble for a long time now. I haven't had a constant source of the internet i guess you could say. I have been on and off. I enjoyed the film, i heard that it was one of the original "anime" whatever you want to call it back then. It was neat how they all looked cut out. I liked the fact that there wasn't anyone talking, it made me pay attention. It was late when i watched it and for some reason my hand was holding the tv control and i just sat there the whole way through. I never really did understand the whole magic island and the girl thing though. was she some kinda of guardian of spirits?

-- Lady Morgan (Aeonfluxfan1@hotmail.com), September 29, 2003.