I know I have been absent for the last two months, but my History of Animation class at GMU ended back in May. Since I have no more use for this blog, this will be my last entry. I have had a great doing this blog for the class. I thank all those who posted comments, Thank You So Much!!
And so all good things must come to an end…….
Good-Bye for now
Jerry
http://jthomas388.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/blog-post-12-thomas-the-tank-engine-and-friends/
I added some more information and revising about the show in its current form, as well as add clips for visual purposes.
http://jthomas388.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/blog-post-10-early-network-tv-ids/
I added some clips to show the network id’s in actual use as lead-is’s to some old TV shows from that time period.
Since in previous blog posts I talked about Pixar’s beginings, starting the Pixar Image Computer and the Renderman software they created, and hence, used in dozens of films, both Disney/ Pixar and outside of Disney/ Pixar completely. Some the students in class wrote blog posts dedicated to the early short films that Pixar created. Since Toy Story 3 is soon arriving upon us on June 18, I figured I write a post giving you all a glimpse into the future, showing where Pixar is heading in terms of upcoming films.
Toy Story 3 (June 18, 2010)
Technically, starting with this film is the begining of the future of Pixar, since it’s not theaters yet.
Toy Story 3 picks up where it left off, but now Andy is 18 and heading off to college. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang end up getting sent to a day care for little kids, where they meet more toys, and possibly spending the rest of there days there. The gang try to make an escape from the day care, and find there way back to Andy. But not before the day care toys try to keep them from escaping, so it will a fight for survival. Can Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang escape and get back to Andy before he heads off to college? We will soon find out!
Here is the official trailer for Toy Story 3
Cars 2 (June 24, 2011)
Plot: Lightning McQueen goes on a world tour to promote himself, and Mater tags along.
Brave (June 15,2012)
Originally called The Bear and the Bow, this will be Pixar’s first fairy tale film. It will take place in Scotland, and is about a princess. Reese Witherspoon will be voicing the princess.
The name of the film before the switch to Brave
Sketch of the characters
Monsters, Inc. 2 (November 16, 2012)
Not much is known yet for this film other than its been green lighted.
Newt (release TBA)
Plot: About two newts growing up in a community college lab.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8508063.stm
A while back, I did a post on TV Network Station IDs, starting with ones from the early days of television to the 1960s with the IDs showing “presented in living color”. Since I got a number of positive feedback on that post, it has inspired me to do a Part 2! Only this time, I will go the 1980s, when the networks started using computer-generated animation for there IDs, to the present day. Once again, these were to let you, the viewer, a friendly reminder which network you were watching. As I mentioned before, starting the 1960s, when color TV came into existence, the IDs whould be very colorful, with an annoucer letting you know the program you are about to watch is presented “In Living Color”. Now that this post is part two, and focusing on the 1980s to the present, the network IDs would carry a picture of either headphones or stereo speakers to let you know that the program is presented “In Stereo- Where Avalible”, or stereophonic sound (early version of surround sound). In the present day, the headphones or speakers would get replaced with the tag line “Presented in High Definition- Where Avalible”. Also, along with the CGI animation, this is the when the networks started to add familiar jingles and slogans for the new season.
NBC
1982- *This is the earliest use of CGI for the network.
1984-1986
1984-1986 Special Presentation ID
1986- Changeover to current logo
1987-NBC Monday Night at the Movies (same sequence for Sunday Night Movie as well)
1988-*May need to turn up volume to hear this one.
1994-1995
1993?- different logos morphing.
2000-2004 NBC Studios, Before merging with Universal to become NBC Universal.
2010- Logo as it is in present day
CBS
1981-82 * Earliest use of CGI by network.
1984
1984
1985
1986
1991
1997
2009-present
ABC
1981-82-* Earliest use of CGI by the network
1983
1985
1987- Sunday Night Movie
1990
1996
1999-2000
2007
2010
FOX- Since Part 2 focuses on the network IDs from the 1980s to today, it should be noted that Fox Television came into existence in 1986, marking the first time since the DuMont TV Network in the 1950s that a fourth TV network broadcasted in America, and ending the dominance of the “Big Three” networks (NBC,CBS, ABC).
around 1986
1990
One thing I noticed while doing this blog is that everytime I look on any the other classmates blogs, they have at least one post devoted to an animated TV show from there childhood. I guess it’s about time I did mine.
The animated TV show from my past is one that has a very special place in my memories. For all of us Train lovers (myself included!) how can we forget the number one tank engine of all! Why that blue colored with a red stripe and a big old gold “1″ on his sides named Thomas of course!!!!
The story of how this little tank engine and friends ride the rails of the Island of Sodor began in 1945, just as WWII was coming to a close. Inspired by his childhood growing up by the railroads in England, Rev. Wilbert Awdry wrote the first of what would be called “The Railway Series” of books. The book was titiled “The Three Railway Engines”- the three being Edward, Gordon, and Henry (Thomas was not introduced yet in this book). It was published in 1945 to an instant sucess among children’s books. This prompted Rev. Awdry to write a second book, titled and introducing the most famous engine of them all “Thomas The Tank Engine”. Rev. Awdry would go on to write 26 titles for the series, stopping in 1972. His son Christopher would write 14 more between 1983-2007, as well as another one slated to come out either this year or next year.
The TV series
In 1984, Brit Allcroft began producing the “Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends” series for the British TV broadcaster ITV (BBC’s rival). The first episode aired on September 4, 1984, and was titled “Thomas and Gordon”.
The first narrator was indeed that of Ringo Starr (yes, the Beatles drummer, THAT Ringo Starr). He would go on to narrate the first two seasons (1984- 1986). The other big name narrators include:
Michael Angelis (1991-present)
George Carlin (1991-1995)
Alec Baldwin (1998-2002)
Michael Brandon (2003-present)
Pierce Brosnan (2008)
The series was shot on 35mm film at a place called Shepperton Studios in Surrey, England. Animation used was a mix of both live action model animation (for the trains,vehicles,and other accessories) and stop motion (for figures and facial expressions). The trains made the German toy train manufacture Märklin in 1:32 scale.
The only bad thing I say about show is that each of the characters could only produce facial expressions, and no lip-syncing everytime there was a speaking part. But to keep in mind that this is 1984, and CGI was still in its infantcy, and not good enough for stuff like lip-syncing to give the look and feel of speech every time any of the characters talked. Besides, with a guy like Ringo Starr doing the narrating, how can you go wrong with that?
Here is the intro to each episode
Here is the very first episode Sept 4, 1984. *Note: This is the whole episode. Back then, episodes lasted an average of 4 mins. 30secs for the 7 seasons. For season 8, they got extended to 7 mins. in length. Currently, with season 13 and beyond, episodes last 9 mins.
Update: Blog Spicimen # 1
Up until now, the show was filmed using model trains and stop-motion for the facial expressions. Starting in 2007, that was all going to change…
*Sorry for bad appearence of the clip, that is way the person uploaded it. It is the good clip rom this season I could find.
In 2007 for season 11 (or Series 11 in Britain), this was the first season to be filmed and broadcasted in High-Definition.
Season 12,Ep. 12 “James Works it Out”
Season (Series) 12 (2008)- This was the first season to CGI. This was a gradual change to CGI. For Season 12, only the faces were shot with CGI, to give more human-like facial expressions to the engines. Although they still used models, this was last full season using model trains, putting an end that era in use since 1984.
*These two clips are the only good ones I could find for Season 13, which these are just promo pictures of what the characters look like in full Full CGI. No actual clips from any episodes.
Season (Series)13 (2010)- This is the first season shot entirely in CGI, meaning no more models used. Plus, instead of one narrator speaking a whole episode, there will be a cast to voice all the characters.
Sources
We all know Pixar is famous for its movies such as Toy Story, Wall-E, Finding Nemo, as well as short films such as Luxo Jr., Red’s Dream, and Tin Toy. But did you know Pixar built computers and software back in the day? Believe it or not, Pixar did build computers and software as a way to get money in its early days.
After Pixar was formed in early 1986 from the Graphics and Computer Division of LucusFilm, Inc., with the help from Apple’s Steve Jobs, Pixar needed a core product to generate income to stay alive. That core product was called the Pixar Image Computer. It was sold to government agencies, the medical industry, as well as other high-visual markets. The Walt Disney Company was among the customers who bought several PICs used for there in-house software, Computer Animation Production System (CAPS).
Here is a picture of the Pixar Image Computer
Here is a scene from the 1985 movie Young Sherlock Holmes, which used the PIC for the 3-D effects, and the first computer-generated character, the knight.
Software:
REYES (Renders Everything You Ever Saw) - First developed while Pixar was still part of LucusFilm.
Here are from still images using REYES
“The Road to Point Reyes” 1983
“The Genesis Effect” -still image from movie Star Trek II- The Wrath of Khan (1982)
“Shade Trees” (1984)
“1984″ (1984) *Note the use of blur to simulate motion
“A Simple Model of Ocean Waves” (1986)
RenderMan- New and improved REYES. Still made by Pixar today. Used in dozens of films
Scenes from different movies that used RenderMan software:
Terminator II: Judgement Day (1991)- Be aware both clips embedding is disabled: click on Watch on Youtube to view both. Sorry.
Another great scene from the movie. *Note when the T-1000 goes through the jail cell doors and molds into blades and hooks.
In keeping with the whole Pixar theme, RenderMan was used for many of their own, starting with Toy Story (1995)
Twister (1996)
Armageddon (1998)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
300 (2007)
AND MANY, MANY, MANY MORE!!!!!!!!! Here is the link to Pixar RenderMan’s page with ALL of the film’s it has been used on.
https://renderman.pixar.com/products/whats_renderman/movies.html
http://renderman.pixar.com/products/index/renderman.html
http://design.osu.edu/carlson/history/lesson11.html
http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/press_box/news/20010305-70673.htm
Since we started talking about animation and cartoons being on television in its infancy, I figure I could add to this by including an element that is just as important and historic, but very relevent to this subject: The TV identifications’ (or station ID’s for short). These were just simply friendly reminders to you, the viewer know what network you are watching (NBC ,CBS, ABC, as well as the defunct network DuMont TV and NET, predecessor to PBS).
Here are some from the 1950′s
NBC:
CBS:
ABC:
DuMont TV Network, an early attempt at a “fourth network” long before FOX came along,aside from the “Big Three” (NBC,CBS,ABC), but was short-lived.
What I just showed you was the ID’s when TV was still presented in black and white. By the mid to late 50′s and well into the 60′s, the networks began presenting in color. These ID’s became more animated, and loaded with lots of color! Once again, these were friendly reminders to you the viewer what network you were watching, only this time, the announcer would tell you the program you are about to watch is presented “in color”, much like the same way later on in the 1980s with “Presented In Stereo- Where Available” and today with “Presented in High Definition Where Available”.
Collection of Network IDs. Mind the wacky beginning and end!!
NBC: This where they got the nickname “The Peacock Network” from
CBS:
ABC:
NET & PBS
Update: Blog Spicemen #2
I have uploaded some clips of the network color logo’s in actual use as lead-in’s to some TV shows shown in color at the time:
Here is actual footage of the NBC peacock for “In Living Color” in use. It dates from 1959 and was used as a lead-in to the “Fred Astaire Show” Chrysler Corporation sponsored the program, hence all the Chrysler cars paraded around the screen.
Here is a 60′s CBS color logo in use as a lead-in to the Carol Burnett Show, also with the show’s intro in animation as well.
Here is the ABC color logo in use as a lead-in to Batman, with Batman’s intro in animation as well.
Previously, I posted a blog post the animation of “Take on Me’ by the band a-ha. Well I have another great music video from 1985 that strikes a different chord. The song is called “Brothers in Arms” by the English band Dire Straits.
The music video contains animated charcoal scenes dipicting images of war, along with both animated and live action, all in black and white film, except for the end with the sunset.
The song was originally written during the 1982 Falklands War between Great Britain and Agentina. For the 25th anniversary of the war in 2007, the band redid the song and music video as a tribute to those who fought in that war.
The song has been featured in TV shows such as Miami Vice, The West Wing, Due South, and In Justice.
It was used in the films Spy Games, McBain, What Just Happend.
Various other bands and acts have sung versions of the song.
And now, here is the music video:
Over the past week, we as a class talked briefly about rotoscoping. Simply, rotoscoping is taking live action, and going frame by frame, tracing over to give moving objects a more animated feel and look to them. While in the classes learning about the technique, It made me start to think of a certain “movie” I have seen before, and for you 80s fans out there, you might have seen this one too. For this blog post, I am going to use probably the most famous music video of the 80s, and probably the greatest music video to air on MTV. I am talking about “Take on Me” by a-ha. The only thing I don’t like is when the lead singer hits the high notes, it can hurt yours ears he’s so loud and high pitched.
A little background on the band:
Formed in 1982 by Morten Harket - lead singer,Paul Waaktaar-Savoy- guitar, and Magne ”Mags” Furuholmen- keyboard/synthesizer.
From Oslo, Norway
Broke up in 1994, came back together in 2000, still play today.
Take on Me song and music video:
from album Hunting High and Low (band’s 1st album, 1985)
1st version of song recorded in 1984.
2nd and current version recorded in 1985.
Music Video:
Directed by Steve Baron
won 7 awards at 1986 Video Music Awards
14 artists worked the drawing and rotoscoping
It took 3 months and 2,000 drawings to make the video.
At 1:52-53 in the video, the drummer is none of the band members, purely fictional.
The last scene, as Morten fades from drawing to live in the hallway, the inspiration came from another film that used rotoscoping: Altered States.
The music video is the 2nd video for the song. An earlier one , known as the “blue video” because it was shot
Here is the Take on Me music video. Note the rotoscoping.
In case you are wondering, here is that “Blue Video”. See for yourself which is better!!
As a bonus, here another a-ha music video, Train of Thought. Also, note the rotoscoping.
The animated movie I watched was Cars. It was made by the Pixar Animation Studios (of Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Wall-E, and Up fame), in which by this time, in 2006 when the movie came out, became a division of the Walt Disney Company.
To make the long story short here it goes: Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is one win away winning the Piston Cup Championchip, when he ends up in a three way tie with rivals Chick Hicks and Strip “The King” Weathers, who is retiring at the end of the season. Because of the tiebreaker, the three have to go to LA for the tiebreaker. While on the way to the track, Lightning gets lost and ends up in a town called Radiator Springs. The town fell on hard times after the interstate opened up, but the inhabinants never forget there auto racing roots. Lightning meets Doc Hudson, Mater, and Sally Carrera. After spending time in the town, Lightning competes in the race, in which he loses, but wins everbodys respect again.
If there is something bad to say about this film, it is that for once Disney got something right for once when it came to historical accuracy. What I mean is Disney has lacked in the historical accuracy department. The subject in question is Doc Hudson (voiced by Paul Newman, his last movie role ever before he passed away). Doc Hudson , who is a 1951 Hudson Hornet, and is nicknamed “Fabulous Hudson Hornet”, is based off a real car of the same make, model, year, and nickname as Doc Hudson. The real car was driven by both Marshall Teague and Herb Thomas. These two drivers were legends in the early days of NASCAR.
Some stats on Marshall Teague:
First race in 1945.
Won 1951 AAA Stock Car Driver of the Year.
Won 1952 and 1954 AAA National Stock Car Champion
Died in 1959 in an car accident
About Herb Thomas
Won 1st Grand National Race in 1951
1951 and 1953 Grand National Champion
Died in 2000
Herb Thomas #92, Marshall Teague #6
Marshall Teague’s page
http://www.legendsofnascar.com/marshall_teague.htm
Herb Thomas’ page
