The Peak of Animation Is Now
Ida Derish (Merlin’s Beard)
After many unsuccessful movies such as The Black Cauldron and The Fox and the Hound in the 80s, the Disney Renaissance came with The Little Mermaid, changing animation forever. Struggling for over a decade, Walt Disney Animation Studios seems to have finally settled down a path that looks promising. Not only are we spoiled with over-the-top animation techniques, dazzling colors, and lively musical numbers, but we also get to experience some of the most memorable voice acting since Ilene Woods’s take on Cinderella. What a time to be alive!
Robin Williams’s voice of gold as the genie in Aladdin was such a success, he is currently considered the funniest man alive, and will never, I am sure, be bested or eclipsed in his skill. His interpretation of genie was just beyond perfection, his quips and jokes making even the saddest person smile. His energetic, cheerful and crazy rendition made us love him all the more. The man is immortal, what can I say…
Another powerful piece from Disney came in the form of The Lion King. This highest-grossing animated film is beyond words, and awesome in every sense. The music is priceless. The character development is masterfully done. Tragic scenes are agonizing. You have it all! Millions came out of the theaters sobbing, emotionally scarred by Mufasa’s death. Heck, I’ve watched this movie so many times and I still have to pretend I have been cutting onions when explaining my red eyes and heartbroken expression to my mother.
The best part about this? Animated features aren’t the only ones to bring our favorite characters to our screens. Every week, dozens of animated shows run in the morning and afternoon to bring us the
fun and adventure without being two hours long. These series make us admire the characters, laugh at their misfits and cheer them on in their conquest. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a great example of that kind of epic cartoon. To misquote a famous saying, there are two kinds of people in this world: People who own TMNT merchandise and liars. My own cupboards are still filled with action figures of Michelangelo, Donatello, Leonardo, and Raphael. When you think of it, rationally, giant, humanoid turtles that are trained in martial arts seem quite odd. WRONG. There is nothing more awesome than the four brothers in arms fighting crimes on
the streets of New York. Do not attempt to talk me out of that, I will take out my nunchucks and run at you while yelling “Cowabunga!” because there isn’t an argument in the world that will make me dislike this show. I mean, wouldn’t it be dumb if such a fun-filled, humorous concept was applied seriously? Imagine 6-foot-tall muscled and intimidating computer generated fighter turtle-men, with boring one-liners and a way-too-serious plot with too many explosions. Now THAT would be a cringe worthy mess. But happily, no director is crazy enough to do that kind of thing.
The Ninja Turtles isn’t the only show to have a huge fan base of supporters. Series like The Rugrats, Animaniacs, and Dexter’s Laboratory bring thousands of children and adults alike to the screens of their televisions.
Saying cartoons are a “thing” is an understatement. They are THE thing we all look forward to, the one little moment of awesome in our boring weeks. So sit down, push that VHS in your cassette player, make yourself a good cup of hot chocolate, and watch a cartoon, because there’s nothing like a good ol’ movie with singing and dancing to make you happy. Hakuna Matata!