Friday is a Cartoon Combine Harvester
No, seriously, a cartoon combine harvester, I kid you not. What sort of ridiculous synaptic misfire is responsible for that image, you ask? Or at least, I pretend you ask. Well here’s a needless insight into how these Friday Fives come about for you, seeing as I pretended you asked.
These things are all about finding one of those weird tangents your brain shoots off on at times, and embracing it. So I was having a piss this morning… no, too much information. There I was this morning, contemplating how efficient I had been with my inbox this week. I generally have an ‘On Trial’ folder for unreviewed or undecided mp3s or albums and it can get a bit too full. By the start of last week it was so bad it contained a second folder call ‘New’, containing all the previous week’s zip downloads and so on.
Now, you will have noticed, as did I, that that is a slippery slope, and a potentially infinite set of Russian Dolls full of new music. So this week I systematically went through all the top level albums and either reviewed or deleted them, so yesterday I was able to unzip all the folders in ‘New’, move them to ‘On Trial’, and nip this little problem in the bud. I still have an overflowing inbox, but I feel that it is at least back under control again, which is a relief, because I like to give everyone a fair listen rather than miss them because I have too much to listen to.
So I was standing there having a p… no, there I was contemplating this week’s efficiency and I smugly compared it to being like a combine harvester. Ho ho, I thought to myself, more like a combine harvester wielding a giant axe. Yeah, a combine harvester with an axe, that’s what I was like. And the only place I could imagine seeing a combine harvester with an axe was one of those Disney films like Cars or some such, where there would probably be a big bad combine harvester (probably a thug, so not very bright) wielding and axe and using it to threaten our plucky hero, who is probably something wholesome and American like a Dodge or a Chevrolet*.
So, yes, a cartoon combine harvester dreamt up while I was hav… , that is how this week’s five was born. And you thought it was magic, eh? Sheesh! So if that’s how clever the five tend to be, there’s no excuse not to delurk and chip in five frivolous answers to these questions, and then while away the afternoon bickering about them in the comments.
1. Favourite computer animated film (these can probably all be ads or music videos and stuff, why restrict ourselves).
2. Favourite hand-drawn animated film.
3. Favourite live-action version of a cartoon character.
4. Favourite hero from one of those Disney/Pixar new animations.
5. As a kid what was your favourite picture book?
This week’s five songs are from a compilation called 12″ 80s. No I don’t really get it either, don’t worry, I’ve not suddenly tried to become cooler than I really am.
Stephen Tin Tin Duffy – Kiss Me (Mixe Plural)
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Lloyd Cole – My Bag (Dancing Mix)
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Echo & the Bunnymen – Never Stop (Discotheque)
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ABC – Tears Are Not Enough (12″ Mix)
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Kid Creole & the Coconuts – I’m a Wonderful Thing (Baby) (12″ Mix)
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*As opposed to something which actually fucking works, like a Volkswagen, but those are made in Socialist Yurp, aren’t they. Which might be why they work in the first place.
1. I actually thought Wall.E was rather good.
2. Belleville Rendesvouz is probably my favourite recently, but I have’t seen many.
3. There are loads of superhero things I could choose here I suppose, but I think the new Sin City film, despite the numerous pale imitations it has spawned, was rather excellent.
4. In terms of pure character design I kinda liked Robots, although I can’t remember what the little chappie was called.
5. What-a-Mess, the Afghan hound who was a constant disappointment to his mother – that was a favourite for years and years. And then Tintin and Asterix.
1. The Incredibles.
2. Duck Amuck
3. Sarah Palin.
4. Buzz Lightyear
5. Asterix.
Ah yes, the Incredibles was rather good too.
1. Wall-E. Funny, intelligent and moving. And having a kids open with 45 minutes of almost no dialogue at all is genius, in my opinion.
2. The Hedgehog in the Fog. Though anyone living in Edinburgh who has not seen the Illusionist yet should go and see the Illusionist.
3. Um, no idea. Once on SM:TV, Cat Deeley dressed up like Jessie from Pokemon. It was a bit too much to take on a Saturday morning. Sorry, but that image has stuck with me all these years.
4. Probably Mike in Monsters Inc.
5. Can’t remember. I was really young at the time. Current favourite is Penguin Dreams, though. I do read a lot of children’s books.
Fuck, I’d forgotten about the Illusionist. I wanted to go and see it, couldn’t get tickets and managed to forget that the fucking thing existed, what a prat.
Both Cameo and Filmhouse have added showings cos it’s been so popular.
http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/cinema/Cameo_Picturehouse/film/The_Illusionist_2010/
http://www.filmhousecinema.com/showing/the-illusionist/
1. I like most of what Disney/Pixar have done, except I hate Cars for some reason. I love Monsters Inc. and Nemo was pretty good too.
2. Hmmm not sure. The Lion King maybe?
3. None! You can’t beat the original cartoon I’m afraid.
4. Buzz is pretty awesome, but I also like Bruce the shark from Nemo and that nasty office lady who’s always hassling Mike Rodowski to do his paperwork in Monsters Inc.
5. Loved Tintin, hated Asterix. Also loved Flat Stanley and Where The Wild Things Are.
Hey Bart, the INTERNET – why di’n I think to use that!
Agnes.
Hated Asterix?
Surely there must be a typo there.
1. Against all my better judgement, I very much enjoyed “How to Train Your Dragon.” Maybe I was homesick, all the adults have very OTT scottish accents.
2. I don’t tend to watch animation. So I’ll have to say something like Terry Gilliam’s Monty Python bits.
3. I once met Stop It and Tidy Up at WHSmiths in Bradford. I guess they were alright.
4. Don’t watch them! This is not a good five for me…
5. The Little Red Hen.
Sorry to disappoint Matthew…. but no.
AGNES!
Becky, I too quite liked the Dragon one. But then, I tend to like most of these things really. I am not very deep when it comes to movies, I have to confess.
Hating Asterix is Against The Rules and will not be tolerated. Tintin is ace though. You know, once you get past the racism.
Hating Asterix is just Wrong Thinking. You love Asterix, you just have yet to actually realise it.
1. I liked the bit in the Simpsons when Homer was in 3D, that was pretty awesome
2. gotta be the Lion King, the big kid in me loves that film- haven’t seen it in years though
3. Kick Ass was rather good so I’ll go with that.
4. Woody from Toy Story
5. The Hungry Hungry Catepillar
1. Catface is pretty awesome or Weebl and Bob, if internet cartoons are allowed.
2. I think I watched 101 Dalmatians many, many times when I was a kid, no idea why, maybe it was the only film I had, I don’t even like dogs.
3. Ramona Flowers from the Scott Pilgrim comic books and film, the hot/geeky combination is rare but awesome!
4. Dory from Finding Nemo, is she a hero? She should be!
5. Again I remember having loads of Animals of Farthing Wood picture books, so I guess I must have liked them.
Ooh, I am looking forward to Scott Pilgrim. I saw there was a movie, I know it was a cartoon, and that’s all. Enough for me.
Seriously though Agnes. Asterix. Come on.
you haven’t see Scott Pilgrim yet, is that cause you don’t have the time……
1. The video for ‘Pyramid Song’ by Radiohead. And ‘Toy Story’.
2. ‘Spirited Away’. Oh god I love that film. ‘Waltz With Bashir’ and ‘Persopolis’ are also rather good.
3. All of the characters in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs the World’.
4. The wee boy from ‘Up’ was properly adorable.
5. Mr Magnolia Has Only One Boot.
Also What-A-Mess = AWESOME
Scott Pilgrim is kind of a prick. But it’s an Edgar Wright film, so I’m going to go see it. In two months when it finally reaches me.
Up was rather cool too. Especially Kevin.
is Kevin the wee boy? or is that the dog?
1. Favourite computer animated film (these can probably all be ads or music videos and stuff, why restrict ourselves).
Tron? Aaaaah.
2. Favourite hand-drawn animated film.
The Iron Giant………”soooooper-maaaan” (Cue tears)
3. Favourite live-action version of a cartoon character.
Batman Begins, Dark Knight and soon…..the third whatever it may be called.
4. Favourite hero from one of those Disney/Pixar new animations.
Incredi-boy/Syndrome from The Incredibles. Probably.
5. As a kid what was your favourite picture book?
COR! Annual 1976 (Bumpkin Billionaires was good)….but really more than likely TinTin/Asterix books from the library were the most read.
Ella, Kevin was the gigantic bird who was actually female.
Ah yes Kevin! Sorry, I was probably still traumatised by the opening credits of that film. Grown men crying 2 minutes into a disney film was a sight to behold…
Oh, what, you mean the montage of his relationship with his wife? Yes, that was a difficult time for many of us.
1. Watching “Up” at End Of The Road on the Friday morning.
2. Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. (1949 – 1965 period, under the supervision of Michael Maltese / Chuck Jones)
3. The video to Take On Me by A-ha.
4. I like the little pre-historic squirrel creature from the Ice Age movies.
5. I liked Asterix, but not Tin Tin.
Whilst I still do not entirely approve of someone not liking Tintin, if there was an order in which to have them, that is the order. Asterix is and always has been fucking brilliant.
That opening montage of Up is an incredible bit of film making.
It’s not quite as good as Dirk Benedict looking quizically at the cylon in the A-team opening montage.
Very little is.
1. I actually enjoyed the Final Fantasy movie. I was awe inspiring at the time.
2. Was Transformers hand drawn?
3. Yoda. Retrospectively.
4. The old ma from Up.
5. I typed ‘What-a-Mess!’ and then thought I’d better check Matthew’s answer. Damn! And Asterix is also taken. And Tintin is really racist. Man by Raymond Briggs has to win it then.
Raymond Briggs! Now he did some ace stuff, neutered Welsh wailing aside.
Man is a really touching book.
Wait! Someone took ‘Up’ too. This time-zone sucks. Up makes me sad though because I watched it on a tour bus and there was a general discussion about how I will turn into the old man if my wife dies before I do.
1. Overtime by these animation students because it is brilliantly sad if you like Jim Henson. http://www.mostlymuppet.com/muppets-overtime/
2. Paprika by Yasutaka Tsutsui. Standard wtf anime plot, but beautiful and weird. (I’ve yet to see Inception but I imagine that it’s mostly based on this movie) also Cowboy Bebop.
3. Rogue from the X-Men movies.
4. Remy or Anton Ego from Ratatouille. Yes, I know that Ego is the villain but his speech at the end gets me every time.
5. the Angelina Ballerina series and the D’Aulaires Book of Greek Myths
Can I change my answer to number three to Over The Wall’s brilliant video announcing their album launch nights?
That Overtime thingy is ace!
It’s not as funny as the Over The Wall video though.
1. I used to like the ones on Telly like Chorlton and the Wheelies. I suppose that counts eh? Or Battle Of The Planets (aka G Force)
2. Fred Quimby era Tom and Jerry. chuck jones was shite.
3. Oh dear. Most are awful but I like that one with the big red demon guy.
4. Mr Potatohead from Toys
5. The Hungry Caterpillar of course.
Btw – for those who think Tin Tin is racist, how do you like your swarthy swivel eyed gypsies and peasants in Enid Blyton? She doesn’t even go abroad before the hate crimes start!
Poor Tintin. The best defense anyone has for him is that Enid Blightytton is also racist.
Well is there a better one?
“You’ve got to understand, things were different then” perhaps.
It seems I went to bed last night and missed out on all the remonstrations! I think it was the drawing style I didn’t like, though my reasons for disliking him as a kid weren’t exactly explained in such sophisticated terms. I think it was more like ‘Asterix sucks’.
And yeah, Enid was one racist lady, and Tintin wasn’t exactly fair and modern in his thinking either. I can’t say I really noticed any of that stuff when I was a kid, only when I read them later on. I didn’t even like Tintin himself that much either – I was all about Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus and the awesome Thomson twins anyway.
Tin Tin wasn’t only a racist, he was also from Teeside, I’m not sure which offends me most…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcq1DScWzZQ&has_verified=1
BATTLE
OF
THE
PLANETS