DVD sets is mighty-mighty!

Starting 2010 off right with the release of the cartoon which pretty much started the whole trend of director-based shows in North America. You'll remember the tale...dark lord of amination Ralph Bakshi sought to re-invent a classic. Some religious type got a hair up his ass about something, show cancelled. But, it got John K. off and running, and started the careers of a whole bunch of other good fellas who gave us a whole lot of good shows. Haven't seen many of these, so I'll be ordering up my copy tomorrow. Go and get you one. Thanks to Cartoon Brew for the heads up.


Also like to point out that Robot Chicken season 4 is out on DVD as of early last month! Some inspired craziness to be had here, and some great stop-mo courtesy of a new camera rig that can sweep through shots like a handicam...nice! Bonus is the 'Full-Assed' Christmas special, with what has to be the best animal character since Seth's giraffe, Comet the reindeer. Both sets on sale at Amazon, so go spend them gift cands. More to follow!

Animation showdown: Émile Cohl vs. J. Stuart Blackton

Interesting bit o' business to start the week folks. Slashfilm (via the Disney Blog) has declared today the 100th anniversary of the animated film. Émile Cohl's film 'Fantasmagorie' was released on this day in 1908, comprised of some 700 individual drawings, it's considered by some to be the first animated film. See it in it's entirety below.



But wait! I have to call shenanigans...J. Stuart Blackton developed an animated film 2 years before! It's actually said that Cohl was inspired by Blackton to create his own animated film. While 'Humorous Phases of Funny Faces' isn't as lushly animated as Cohl's film, it certainly qualifies as animation...the drawings come to life on screen. See for yourself!



So, who's the father of film animation, Msr. Cohl or Mr. Blackton? In the end, who gives a damn? Pioneers like these got the ball rolling, inspiring legions of artists to try their hand at the art, eventually leading to something sublime...like, oh, say, this.



So hoist a glass to them whats paved the way. Cheers, cheers, a thousand times cheers, gentlemen!