Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Animation Countdown at Wonders in the Dark - November the 2nd

From November the 2nd I will be hosting at Wonders in the Dark a countdown of the 50 best animated films that I have seen.

I've tried as best I can to sample what the world of animation can offer and hope to offer up a smorgasbord of those films, long and short, that have left the greatest impression. It's been very enjoyable watching and reading about the kind of art that is too often or too quickly neglected.

 I am following in the footsteps of the fascinating Horror Countdown which is still to conclude, appropriately, on the 31st of October. I hope there will be as lively a discussion of Animation as there has been for Horror. As with Horror, each day a new piece on an animated film will be posted, each day taking us closer to the final revelation of the number one in December.

There is a banner on the side that you can click on / will be able to click on to take you to Wonders in the Dark. I hope people will enjoy it as much as I have.

Posted by Stephen at 08:44

14 comments:

  1. Just Another Film Buff27 October 2010 at 18:24

    Wow. Can't wait for this!!! Your animation countdown here at COMS itself was golden. I'm sure it'll be bigger and better at WitD...

    All the best, Stephen~

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  2. Stephen27 October 2010 at 18:42

    Thanks very much, JAFB

    I'm hoping there will be at least a couple of films/shorts that people haven't come across. I look forward to seeing what you think.

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  3. Anonymous1 November 2010 at 02:35

    I can't wait for this countdown to begin. I plan on using your selections to check out stuff I have not seen before.......M.Roca

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  4. Stephen1 November 2010 at 06:32

    Thanks Maurizio.

    I hope I don't disappoint. I'll be using your own Film Noir Countdown (I hope I haven't got that wrong) for the same purpose.

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  5. Coffee Messiah1 November 2010 at 09:31

    Hello again and look forward to your postings.

    BTW, we found a used copy of: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and enjoyed it, so Thanks for the introduction to seek it out.

    Cheers!

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  6. Stephen1 November 2010 at 13:19

    Thank you, Coffee Messiah.

    "BTW, we found a used copy of: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and enjoyed it, so Thanks for the introduction to seek it out."

    Cool. I'm glad you liked it. I hope I can introduce you to a few more films you might enjoy.

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  7. Ronak M Soni1 November 2010 at 15:58

    I've picked up only two from your earlier countdown (I can't seem to find it, though).
    The Batman, which was truly amazing.
    And My Neighbour Totoro, the monotonous joyousness (at least in the first half) of which really put me out.

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  8. Stephen1 November 2010 at 16:49

    Well, I'm happy I could point you towards the Batman film. Did you not like My Neighbour Totoro, then (I'm not entirely sure if your "monotonous joyousness" is an entirely bad thing).

    I've removed the earlier countdown for now, as I thought it might give too much of an indication of the way the new one might go (although there are big changes).

    If you're after some of the Russian short animations there are brilliant DVD collections ('Masters of Russian Animation') that include most of the best I've seen.

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  9. Ronak M Soni1 November 2010 at 17:02

    Well, I liked it but considering that it was hyped to me as the ultimate Miyazaki (all of his films that I've watched -- Spirited Away, Mononoke and Totoro -- missed perfect beauty by a little bit), I found it a disappointment. I have a copy of Porco Rosso (I think you recommended that too) but haven't had the heart to watch it after I didn't love Totoro.

    Yes, the monotonous joyousness is a bad thing, because without so much of it I would have loved the movie.
    I think filmmakers set themselves a massive challenge by going for a monotone; they need to put the viewer in a sort of trance or a similar raptured state, otherwise it won't work. Totoro didn't work.

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  10. Ronak M Soni1 November 2010 at 17:04

    For me.

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  11. Stephen1 November 2010 at 17:07

    "I think filmmakers set themselves a massive challenge by going for a monotone; they need to put the viewer in a sort of trance or a similar raptured state, otherwise it won't work. Totoro didn't work."

    I completely understand and it's a good point. I thought it was joyous almost from beginning to end.]

    Porco Rosso is like an old yarn. Less spiritual fantasy, more Golden Age Hollywood heroics.

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  12. Stephen1 November 2010 at 17:10

    "For me."

    Haha! Some people got angry when I said Citizen Kane didn't work. I don't think there's any need for "for me". If it's under your name, Ronak, then you speak for yourself and not everyone.

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  13. Sam Juliano6 November 2010 at 02:06

    The countdown has begun, and already there are 54 comments for the #50 choice, YELLOW SUBMARINE. It appears the project is already abig hit, and everyone has you to thank Stephen!

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  14. Stephen6 November 2010 at 07:00

    Thanks for the support and encouragement Sam.

    The discussions at WitD can certainly go in weird and wonderful directions.

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