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by Molly McCall
Mon, July 09, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

First of all, it's almost impossible to answer that question neatly. As the cinemaniacs at Not Coming to a Theater Near You say right off, there is an "unimaginably large spectrum of films" that fall within the "animation" definition. So rather than deliver a long-winded response, these movie buffs have pulled together a series of articles on "individual cases" they see as significant. Lively essays on such commercial whizzes as Walt Disney, Hayao Miyazaki, and Pixar brush up against paeans to odd and forgotten types like Czech stop-motion master Jiri Trnka and the masterminds of live-action puppet films. Individual examinations of "The Triplets of Belleville" and "Fantastic Planet" waltz through. And, because it wouldn't be a proper party without them, the wild boys of "South Park" get their honorary nod. For 10 years, they've violated "all boundaries of accepted decency on televison" and still managed to be one of the funniest things out there. Perhaps more important than "what is animation?" is "where would we be without it?"
by Molly McCall
Mon, June 04, 2007, 8:00 am PDT

Without Ethan Persoff, the Web would a slightly more subdued place—bereft of esoteric cartoons, historic comics, and the sounds of Nancy Reagan and a host of mid-'80s stars rapping against drugs. ("Stop the madness!") Never one to say no himself, Ethan creates his own graphic tales, records his own music, and, recently ventured into all-out animation with friend and cohort Scott Marshall.

We have known Ethan longest, though, for his jaw dropping collection of vintage comics. Ranging from the heroin warning "Hooked!" to the CIA propaganda "Grenada" to any number of "comics with problems," this stuff is sometimes bizarre, occasionally shocking, and always golden. We asked Ethan what has surprised him about running ep.tc all these years. Here's his answer:

"I think the most surprising thing about the site is how it's responded to by different kinds of audiences, the Web over. Like "Johnny Surge" ended up on a forum for male lactators; that made my year. There are unintended surprises, like the Alcoholics Anonymous comic strips being absorbed into psychology sites and 12-step groups. There are lots of stories about things I post and the weird places they go. It seems if you're a troubled or perverted person I've got a piece of pop culture or comic book JUST for YOU."

Never stop the madness, Ethan.

by Molly McCall
Tue, April 10, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

We remember the relief we felt when The New Yorker first came online. This past month, the magazine launched a major redesign and thrilled us all over again. Among the fresh offerings now sparkling at newyorker.com, the animated versions of their classic cartoons are surely the most unexpected. We'd love to know what went down in the periodical's conference room when they hashed out this concept. In some ways, it's as nonsensical as animating the Mona Lisa. Why change what's already perfect? On the other hand, we recently found ourselves forwarding more than a few of the 10-second videos. Many of our long-time favorites are here: the dogs surfing the Internet, the mouse unthinkingly playing with the cat, the snail besotted with the tape dispenser. It's curious, and a little odd, to watch them move and hear them speak. For no other reason than that, they're worth checking out. Who knows, maybe we'll end up considering them genius.
by Molly McCall
Tue, March 13, 2007, 3:00 am PDT

For decades, editorial cartoonist Steve Brodner has mocked, teased, panned, and occasionally praised creatures of the public realm. Neither politician, nor media mogul, nor cultural icon has escaped his sharp-witted, jowly sketches, and nearly every major periodical has hosted his work. Now, we can catch the "satirical illustrator" daily in this Monday-to-Friday update from the site Drawger. In past months, everyone from Osama bin Laden to Barry Bonds has skulked through Person of the Day. Some lucky types even score a personalized title: On January 20, Simon Cowell became the "Ersatz Person of the Day" and February 16 marked the "Hillary War Vote Explanation of the Day." Yes, this stuff is unabashedly political. The guy's not short on opinions. But at least he's a bipartisan of bile; power brokers and blabbermouths from across the political spectrum have suffered their likeness in his work. Assuming that Brodner stays Brodner, they will continue to for a long time to come, too.
by Molly McCall
Sun, August 27, 2006, 3:00 am PDT

Like so many Americans, Michael Paulus grew up watching cartoons. But unlike most children who become adults and shed interest in their animated friends, Michael matured into an artist who applies grown-up analysis to the animated characters of his youth—and their bone structure, in particular. That pondering led to detailed illustrations of the skeletal systems of such preeminent cartoon actors as Barney Rubble, Shmoo, and Baby Huey. If you accept the maxim that a large cranium indicates great intelligence, then Michael has revealed that Charlie Brown might just be a genius (footballs notwithstanding). Hello Kitty is a whiz. And Pigpen is a veritable Stephen Hawking. As for Betty Boop, it's a wonder she can even hold her mastermind-sized head up above those dainty little feet.

Filed under: Humor, Cartoons, Anatomy


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