Episode 59 - Time Out Magazine’s 50 Best Animated Films
You want to stir up a hornet’s nest? Make a list of the “50 Best Rock Bands.” The “50 Best Sports Teams.” The “50 Best 80’s Hair Bands.” (We all know Poison would top that list.) The film folks over at Time Out Magazine put out a list called the “50 Best Animated Films Ever” and, well, we just couldn’t let that pass unnoticed. Especially not since it had holes the size of Nebraska in it. So, I asked old friends of the show, Justin “MythTickle” Thompson and Dreamworks story artist John “Chippy and Loopus” Sanford to jump on board with me to talk about this list, to figure its strengths, its weaknesses, and to rip it a new one where necessary.
In other news, apparently enough of you fine people think highly of my little podcast, ’cause it’s been nominated for an award in the Cultural/Arts category at the Podcast Awards. I’m thrilled and humbled by this, of course. Voting starts on Friday, November 13th, and goes through the end of the month. I’ll send out Tweets and Facebook reminders a couple of times, so let’s see if we can make some noise out there in the Podcast world and strike a blow for cartoonist fans everywhere!
And a quick shout out to Justin Thompson, who is an associate editor on the new book, “Celebrating Peanuts: 60 Years.” 544 pages of Peanutty goodness, available now at Amazon! Isn’t Christmas coming? Hmmmmmm?
November 9th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Thanks for the great discussion, gents! I found your observations mostly dead on, and your picks for what you would have put on and what you would have left off are, for the most part, what I would have picked as well. I can quibble with you about Robin Hood and Fantastic Planet (which, to be fair, I can barely remember) neither of which I would have put on the list at all.
To be honest, though, I wouldn’t have made the list so long in the first place. I think this list could be cut down to 30 of the Best Animated films and be a much more useful list. Either that, or allow short subjects on the list and knock off films like Fern Gully and Happy Feet.
I think it’s interesting that you guys didn’t really comment on the number 1 entry… My Neighbor Totoro is a charming film, but there is no way that is the best animated film ever made.
Thanks again for the topic… a very interesting subject!
November 10th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Rick! Thanks for the commentary…I agree with you about the number one entry. I think we could’ve gone off on it some more, but we got distracted by the zillion other problems we saw.
It was definitely on my list of “huh?” moments. These are always fun shows, because at the bottom line, there’s no right or wrong answer. (Well, MY answers are right, but it’s my show.)
November 10th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I think that we didn’t get into Totoro because Justin hadn’t seen it.
I agree, Totoro is a charming, engaging film, but it isn’t number one. I think it’s kind of a calulated safe answer. “Look everyone! We’re down with Miyazaki!”
It’s not really on honest answer.
Another film I wish we could have discussed: 101 Dalmations. Terrific film on every level. Far more deserving than Robin Hood.
November 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Amen on 101 Dalmations! WAY better than Robin Hood.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
Entertaining discussion! I wish I had had time to get in on it.
I can’t agree more that the list was just weird. It felt like they struggled to include a little bit of everything whether it was deserving or not.
The Transformers Movie? Really?
I would have liked to see Chicken Run on the list and I think The Incredibles needs to at least be in the top 10.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
My daughter will kill me if I don’t put in two cents for two of her faves..”Hercules” and “Chicken Little.” Both very enjoyable films, I must say. I remember enjoying Hercules when I first saw it, but now that I’ve seen it a zillion times on DVD, I have to say it’s holding up…charming, fun, great voice work by James Woods, and a cool take on character design. And Chicken Little also has some great voice work and some very nice moments. Even if it’s made my four year old want to hear the Spice Girls’ “Wannabe” over and over and over and over.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Ooo…Chicken Run. Yes. And “Curse of the Wererabbit” also has a place in my heart…but I’m a Wallace and Gromit groupie.
November 10th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
And “Flushed Away.” Very good…amazing voice work. Hearing Ian McKellan as the frog villain alone is worth the price of admission…and Jean Reno as “Le Frog.” Some really funny moments in that…and a good story.
November 10th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
One of the only good things about this list is Persepolis. Definetly a sleeper.
November 13th, 2009 at 8:16 am
That list… ugh! So many bad choices and wrong positions for wrong reasons, Fern Gully?! I completely agree with what John was saying about them not knowing about animation. Looks like it was just a collection of the staffs favourites stuck into an arbitrary order. Makes me wonder if Gilliam knew what order they were putting these in when he was asked to comment.
I have to call John out on this though: Coraline shouldn’t replace Nightmare Before Christmas. Coraline was awesome (and should be somewhere in the top 50) but Nightmare inspired so much after it that if we’re talking important animated films, you can’t compare really. Coraline itself is a stylistic descendant wouldn’t you say?
Anyway, I enjoyed the discussion. These things can never be conclusive but that list is definitely wrong!