Post by maximiliandoom on Jan 2, 2014 2:13:57 GMT
2013 was a great year for television cartoons. While the feature film industry lulled, we got gem after gem premiering on Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and the Disney Channel. I've picked out my 3 favorite cartoons of 2013, and here's why they're amazing.
Wander over Yonder
Premiered: September 13, 2013
Creator: Craig McCracken
Channel: Disney Channel
What I love about Wander over Yonder is how unpretentious it is. It has no ulterior motives. Its animation for the sake of entertainment, harkening back to the consequence free slapstick of the classics.
McCracken's love for the classics shows through in all of the little gags that have been a staple of cartoons for decades. In the episode The Egg, a dragon character literally drains of color in fear.(1) The entire episode The Hat is dedicated to Wander's hat, out of which he can pull any item he needs at just the right time. (Its a staple for cartoons to pull props from thin air)
The stories it delivers are simple yet profound. The Box is based around Wander being forbidden from opening a box. The Good Deed is about a string of problems that arise from one simple act of kindness. These simple ideas keep the story on track, and allow the humor to be in how each situation is handled. Despite its classic roots, Wander over Yonder manages to stay relevant. The episode The Troll is one long personification of internet trolls that feed on negative reactions.
One treat that has leaked online and gives great insight into the design of the show is the character model sheets.(2) Animators are given instructions on how to keep characters on model in various situations. However, the Wander over Yonder sheets reveal the principle that drives the character animation: the lava lamp technique. All the characters flow and complement each other by acting like drops in a lava lamp. Frankly its ingenious, and certainly keeps the posing from looking stiff.
The composition of the show is gorgeous. Never a dull angle, keeping up with the active animation. In the episode The Pet in particular, unconventional angles are used to drive up suspense in a mysterious spaceship. (3)
Not only are the stories funny and the animation smooth, but the color palette is gorgeous.(4) McCracken has said how he wanted to explore different color palettes in each episode. This variation ranges from believable and moody to the abstract, always serving the action and never a distraction.
* You can see more about Wander over Yonder at creator Craig McCracken's tumblr page.
* Also check out the tumblrs of Joe Pitt and Chris Houghton for character designs and other goodies!
Steven Universe
Premiered: November 4, 2013
Creator: Rebecca Sugar
Channel: Cartoon Network
If I could give you only one reason to watch the show, it would be story. The show is about a clumsy boy trying to find his place in the world, and the superhero guardians trying to juggle saving the world and raising a kid. Honest moments of dysfunctional family life and love really hit home in episodes like Together Breakfast, where Steven wants nothing more than a family meal while everyone else is busy working. Anyone with siblings knows what its like when Steven gets his first crush in Bubble Buddies, and is teased relentlessly for it.
Steven Universe so perfectly captures the spirit of childhood, from the awkward interactions of young love (Bubble Buddies) to obsession over a favorite food (Cookie Cat). Even with supernatural elements, each episode feels specific and real.
The show features an all female superhero group, but never feels gendered. This is impressive when ordinarily networks have very strict and outdated ideas about target audiences. (Even though shows like the Power Puff Girls have proven that boys will watch shows with female protagonists) Its refreshing to see this kind of story break down gender barriers.
I've grown to love the background style, which is a bit abstracted at times, and gives a watercolor or gouache feel to the environments, with a digital twist.
Being the newest of these 3 shows, I don't have a lot to say about it yet. I look forward to more of it when it returns on the 13th of January.
* You can keep up with the show behind the scenes at the crew's tumblr page.
Gravity Falls
Premiered: June 15, 2012
Creator: Alex Hirsch
Channel: Disney Channel
For time and budget reasons, most cartoons on television have simple backgrounds on par with the characters. Gravity Falls boldly throws caution to the wind with breathtaking, complex backgrounds that really capture the Oregon wilderness. It really helps bring life to the fantastic tales of the show. (1)
Persistence is not very common in cartoons. Most episodes are self contained, making it easier for out of order reruns. To be honest, this casual nature of most cartoon stories is why I think so few adults outside of cartoon enthusiasts watch them anymore. When things that happen in one episode have lasting effects on the entire series, we're more likely to follow the show and tune in every week. So again Gravity Falls busts out of the norm and makes its continuity clear from the very first episode. Dipper starts the show with one hat, which he loses in the first 20 minutes, and then he wears a different hat for the rest of the series. (2) Other permanent features include the addition of the pig Waddles, or Wendy's every tumultuous love life.
The fact that such a mature and honest show airs on the Disney Channel may surprise you. Disney is known to play it safe, and most of their programming consists of variations on the high school comedy format. But creator Alex Hirsch went to school with all the other bold creators now working at Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. He was adamant from the beginning about pushing boundaries for the sake of honest storytelling. Even so, working with Disney's censors isn't always a cakewalk. In the episode Summerween, (3) Hirsch wanted a party flyer to include the line "bottles will be spun".The implications of kissing were too much for the censors, and the line was rejected. In rebuttal, Hirsch had teh line "not S&P approved" put on the flyer instead. (4) S&P are Disney's censors.
Another aspect of the show that makes it so engaging is its commitment to mystery. The show is all about conspiracies, and it really shows in the tiniest detail. Every episode ends with a cypher for viewers to decode, giving clues about the show's secrets. (5) Even the games on the show's website have these codes, and entire communities have cropped up to solve them and make predictions about the show. (6)
* Both Pitt and Houghton from Wander over Yonder also work on Gravity Falls!
(1) ellemichalka.tumblr.com/post/26370132820/heres-some-of-my-background-paintings
(3) www.nerdist.com/2013/07/nerdist-writers-panel-97-jg-quintel-and-alex-hirsch/
(6)
Wander over Yonder
Premiered: September 13, 2013
Creator: Craig McCracken
Channel: Disney Channel
What I love about Wander over Yonder is how unpretentious it is. It has no ulterior motives. Its animation for the sake of entertainment, harkening back to the consequence free slapstick of the classics.
McCracken's love for the classics shows through in all of the little gags that have been a staple of cartoons for decades. In the episode The Egg, a dragon character literally drains of color in fear.(1) The entire episode The Hat is dedicated to Wander's hat, out of which he can pull any item he needs at just the right time. (Its a staple for cartoons to pull props from thin air)
The stories it delivers are simple yet profound. The Box is based around Wander being forbidden from opening a box. The Good Deed is about a string of problems that arise from one simple act of kindness. These simple ideas keep the story on track, and allow the humor to be in how each situation is handled. Despite its classic roots, Wander over Yonder manages to stay relevant. The episode The Troll is one long personification of internet trolls that feed on negative reactions.
One treat that has leaked online and gives great insight into the design of the show is the character model sheets.(2) Animators are given instructions on how to keep characters on model in various situations. However, the Wander over Yonder sheets reveal the principle that drives the character animation: the lava lamp technique. All the characters flow and complement each other by acting like drops in a lava lamp. Frankly its ingenious, and certainly keeps the posing from looking stiff.
The composition of the show is gorgeous. Never a dull angle, keeping up with the active animation. In the episode The Pet in particular, unconventional angles are used to drive up suspense in a mysterious spaceship. (3)
Not only are the stories funny and the animation smooth, but the color palette is gorgeous.(4) McCracken has said how he wanted to explore different color palettes in each episode. This variation ranges from believable and moody to the abstract, always serving the action and never a distraction.
* You can see more about Wander over Yonder at creator Craig McCracken's tumblr page.
* Also check out the tumblrs of Joe Pitt and Chris Houghton for character designs and other goodies!
Steven Universe
Premiered: November 4, 2013
Creator: Rebecca Sugar
Channel: Cartoon Network
If I could give you only one reason to watch the show, it would be story. The show is about a clumsy boy trying to find his place in the world, and the superhero guardians trying to juggle saving the world and raising a kid. Honest moments of dysfunctional family life and love really hit home in episodes like Together Breakfast, where Steven wants nothing more than a family meal while everyone else is busy working. Anyone with siblings knows what its like when Steven gets his first crush in Bubble Buddies, and is teased relentlessly for it.
Steven Universe so perfectly captures the spirit of childhood, from the awkward interactions of young love (Bubble Buddies) to obsession over a favorite food (Cookie Cat). Even with supernatural elements, each episode feels specific and real.
The show features an all female superhero group, but never feels gendered. This is impressive when ordinarily networks have very strict and outdated ideas about target audiences. (Even though shows like the Power Puff Girls have proven that boys will watch shows with female protagonists) Its refreshing to see this kind of story break down gender barriers.
I've grown to love the background style, which is a bit abstracted at times, and gives a watercolor or gouache feel to the environments, with a digital twist.
Being the newest of these 3 shows, I don't have a lot to say about it yet. I look forward to more of it when it returns on the 13th of January.
* You can keep up with the show behind the scenes at the crew's tumblr page.
Gravity Falls
Premiered: June 15, 2012
Creator: Alex Hirsch
Channel: Disney Channel
For time and budget reasons, most cartoons on television have simple backgrounds on par with the characters. Gravity Falls boldly throws caution to the wind with breathtaking, complex backgrounds that really capture the Oregon wilderness. It really helps bring life to the fantastic tales of the show. (1)
Persistence is not very common in cartoons. Most episodes are self contained, making it easier for out of order reruns. To be honest, this casual nature of most cartoon stories is why I think so few adults outside of cartoon enthusiasts watch them anymore. When things that happen in one episode have lasting effects on the entire series, we're more likely to follow the show and tune in every week. So again Gravity Falls busts out of the norm and makes its continuity clear from the very first episode. Dipper starts the show with one hat, which he loses in the first 20 minutes, and then he wears a different hat for the rest of the series. (2) Other permanent features include the addition of the pig Waddles, or Wendy's every tumultuous love life.
The fact that such a mature and honest show airs on the Disney Channel may surprise you. Disney is known to play it safe, and most of their programming consists of variations on the high school comedy format. But creator Alex Hirsch went to school with all the other bold creators now working at Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. He was adamant from the beginning about pushing boundaries for the sake of honest storytelling. Even so, working with Disney's censors isn't always a cakewalk. In the episode Summerween, (3) Hirsch wanted a party flyer to include the line "bottles will be spun".The implications of kissing were too much for the censors, and the line was rejected. In rebuttal, Hirsch had teh line "not S&P approved" put on the flyer instead. (4) S&P are Disney's censors.
Another aspect of the show that makes it so engaging is its commitment to mystery. The show is all about conspiracies, and it really shows in the tiniest detail. Every episode ends with a cypher for viewers to decode, giving clues about the show's secrets. (5) Even the games on the show's website have these codes, and entire communities have cropped up to solve them and make predictions about the show. (6)
* Both Pitt and Houghton from Wander over Yonder also work on Gravity Falls!
(1) ellemichalka.tumblr.com/post/26370132820/heres-some-of-my-background-paintings
(3) www.nerdist.com/2013/07/nerdist-writers-panel-97-jg-quintel-and-alex-hirsch/
(6)
